Seeds Trading

Any legal or physical person is eligible to obtain a seed marketing license, provided that the Seed Control Sector is satisfied that the following criteria are fulfilled:

(a) Attainment of suitable storage premises, either owned or rented, according to the plant species involved;
(b) Recruitment of specialized technical staff according to the specific plant species involved;
(c)The seeds intended for marketing must comply with the provisions of the Seed (Cereals) Regulations of 2002, the Seed (Fodder Plants) Regulations of 2002, the Seed (Vegetables) Regulations of 2002 and the Seed (Oil and Fibre Plants) Regulations of 2002 as periodically amended.

The application form to Grant or to Renew the License for Seed Marketing can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or you can contact directly the competent authority:

Plant Health and Quality Control Sector
Department of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1412 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22408648, +357 22466253
Fax: + 357 22343419
E-mail: director@da.moa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf

On-site inspections are carried out in order to ensure that all the prerequisites, mentioned under “Who is Eligible” section, are met.

1. There is no requirement for certificates to be submitted with the application.

The licence fee (payable with the submission of the application) is €42,72 and is payable to the Department of Agriculture or to the District Agriculture offices (either by cheque or bank transfer).

The renewal fee is €42,72.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.

Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.

The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action

After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.

At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.

The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

The Seed Law of 1998 (63 (I) / 1998)

The Seed (Cereals) Regulations of 2002

The Seed (Fodder Plants) Regulations of 2002

The Seed (Vegetables) Regulations of 2002

The Seed (Oil and Fibre Plants) Regulations of 2002

The licensed seed trader is obliged to comply with the provisions of the Seed Law of 1998, as periodically amended, as well as with the terms and conditions of the licence. Indicatively, the licensed seed trader should maintain records relevant to the seeds traded; these records must be presented to the competent authority, upon request.

Moreover, the Director of the Department of Agriculture has the right to examine, voluntarily or after a complaint is made, if someone contravenes or fails to comply with the prohibited or mandatory provisions of the relevant law and set out penalties according to the nature, duration and severity of the offence committed.

Any seed trader not satisfied by the Director’s decisions has the right, within a period of 21 days, to resort firstly to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and in case, he/she is not satisfied by this decision, can make an appeal to the Supreme Court.