Implementation of EU directives on conservation and amateur varieties, and preservation mixtures

Since 2009, Germany has translated several European directives, which aim to promote sustainable use of plant genetic resources, in national ordinances. Landraces and varieties naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and significant for the conservation of plant genetic resources can be accepted for inclusion in the national list of registered varieties as ‘conservation varieties’. Vegetable varieties with no intrinsic value for commercial crop production can be registered as ‘amateur varieties’. Less stringent uniformity requirements apply to such varieties. Only limited amounts of seed of these varieties may be marketed. The seed does not require official certification but must meet the requirements for certified seed (agricultural varieties) or standard seed (vegetable varieties). The Federal Plant Variety Office (BSA) has registered 131 amateur and 48 conservation varieties as of June 2019.