Plant Varieties (Farm Saved Seed) Regulations, 2000 (S.I. No. 493 of 2000).

The purpose of this Regulation is to enable breeders of plant varieties to collect royalties on the varieties they have bred and developed and which are used for farm saved seed. Until now, there has been no provision for the collection of royalty payments on farm saved seed. Under this Regulation, farmers retaining a portion of their harvest for re-sowing may be required to pay the holder of a Plant Breeders' Right a royalty fee. Small farmers (as described in council Regulation (EC) 2100/94 concerning Community Plant Variety Rights) are exempt from the payment of royalties. The plant species covered by these Regulations are Cereals, Fodder plants, Oil and Fibre plants (excluding Flax) and Potatoes.