Grounds for obtaining an individual permit
Permit to use conventionally produced seed and seed potatoes may be granted ONLY in the following cases:
(a) no variety of that species is included in the database of seed varieties for biological farming;
(b) no seed or seed potatoes can be delivered by any supplier in time for sowing or planting, although the user had placed an order for seeds or seed potatoes in a timely manner;
(c) the variety which the user wishes to obtain is not included in the database of seed varieties for biological farming and the user can demonstrate that none of the included alternatives of the same species is suitable for production;
(d) the variety is to be used for research, small-scale field trials and for conservation purposes, with the agreement of the competent authority of the Member State.
In the cases referred to in points (b), (c) and (d), the application should be accompanied by a description of the particular circumstances and copies of the documents supporting them.
Before applying for an individual permit:
- make sure that there is no suitable seed or vegetative propagating material of biological origin for the species you need in the database (by the deadline for updating the information);
- make sure the species you require has not already been granted a general permit for the year.
Deadline for submitting an application for an individual permit
The application for an individual permit shall be submitted no later than (postal marking):
For seed and seed potatoes:
- for vegetables - 15 June;
- for cereals, fodder plants, beet, oilseeds, fibre plants (except winter forms) - 15 June;
- for potatoes - 15 June;
- for winter fodder crops, oilseeds - 20 August;
- for winter cereal crops - 15 October.
Vegetative propagation material for other species:
- strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus for open field cultivation - 20 September;
- for other open-field vegetables - 20 September.
- for fruit trees and berry shrubs - 20 May and 15 October.
Points to pay attention to when preparing your application:
- It is important to specify in the application the trade name of the variety or seed mixture for which the individual permit is requested.
- For seed mixtures prepared in accordance with the rules on seed production and seed marketing (the seed package is labelled accordingly), the application must state the trade name indicated on the package label.
- For seed mixtures which the breeder wishes to prepare themselves, individual authorisation is required for each component of the mixture and individual permit must be requested for each component in the application, specifying the species and variety.
- A state fee is charged for the individual permit. Each variety (trade name for seed mixtures) indicated in the application is assessed separately, so that each variety is granted its own individual permit, and the fee must be paid for each individual permit.
Period of validity of the individual permit
Authorisation is granted only to individual users for one season at a time, after assessing the availability of seed and vegetative propagating material of organic origin during that period.
Applying for the individual permit
It is recommended to submit the documents for the individual authorisation on the e-services website of the agricultural sector (service "Authorisation for the use of seeds and propagating material of conventional origin in organic farming"), by secure electronic signature to the e-mail pasts@vaad.gov.lv, by post or in person at the Seed Control Department, Plant Quarantine Department or at the regional offices of State plant protection service.
Receiving the individual permit
The decision to grant an individual permit is taken after the deadline for the last update of the information in the database for the species concerned, and after assessing the availability of seed and vegetative propagating material of biological origin. The decision (individual permit or refusal) is sent to the e-mail address provided by the person.
