Taiwan's MOA to Amend Seedling Act: Hobby Cultivation, Small-Volume Trading Exempt from Registration
Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) plans to amend the Seedling Act to exempt hobby cultivation and small-volume seedling traders from registration requirements, aiming to balance industry protection with market transactions amid diversified seedling applications.
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 20:50
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 21:00 (10 min after Published)
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 3) Under the current Seedling Act, selling seedlings without a registration certificate can result in a maximum fine of NT$300,000. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), considering the increasingly diverse applications of seedlings, plans to amend the law flexibly, exempting those engaged in hobby cultivation and small-volume transactions from applying for a registration certificate.
In recent years, ornamental plants such as staghorn ferns and succulents have become popular. Some enthusiasts breed and sell them on their own, but some have been reported for violating the law, sparking controversy.
The MOA recently held a meeting to discuss amending the Seedling Act to relax regulations.
The Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) under the MOA issued a press release today, stating that the "Plant Seedling Act" has been in effect for 37 years since its implementation on December 5, 1988. It was amended in 2004 and renamed the "Plant Variety and Seedling Act" to protect the domestic seedling production environment, maintain seedling trading order, ensure seedling quality, and prevent variety variation or significant damage from pests and diseases due to improper breeding.
The AFA stated that with the changing times, the application of seedlings in Taiwan has become more diverse, including uses in food and agricultural education, and cultivation by plant enthusiasts. The future direction will be to "achieve a balance between protecting the industry and market transactions," with more flexible amendments and official interpretations.
The AFA also explained the direction of the amendment: if it involves only small-volume transactions, rather than large-scale breeding, production, or sales, the application for a seedling registration certificate can be exempted.
Under a strict interpretation of current regulations, all sales of plant parts with reproductive capacity (such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, garlic, etc.) require a seedling industry registration certificate. The AFA stated that, based on the legislative intent of the "Plant Variety and Seedling Act," the management of the seedling industry focuses on seedling breeding and production management. Seedlings or their final products, if directly used for food, ornamentation, or educational materials, should not be restricted.
Additionally, some citizens have reported that some local governments do not accept registration applications from natural persons. The AFA stated that under current laws, both natural persons and legal entities can apply for a seedling industry registration certificate. This issue will be communicated to local governments through official interpretations to ensure consistency in regulations and enforcement. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150603
In recent years, ornamental plants such as staghorn ferns and succulents have become popular. Some enthusiasts breed and sell them on their own, but some have been reported for violating the law, sparking controversy.
The MOA recently held a meeting to discuss amending the Seedling Act to relax regulations.
The Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) under the MOA issued a press release today, stating that the "Plant Seedling Act" has been in effect for 37 years since its implementation on December 5, 1988. It was amended in 2004 and renamed the "Plant Variety and Seedling Act" to protect the domestic seedling production environment, maintain seedling trading order, ensure seedling quality, and prevent variety variation or significant damage from pests and diseases due to improper breeding.
The AFA stated that with the changing times, the application of seedlings in Taiwan has become more diverse, including uses in food and agricultural education, and cultivation by plant enthusiasts. The future direction will be to "achieve a balance between protecting the industry and market transactions," with more flexible amendments and official interpretations.
The AFA also explained the direction of the amendment: if it involves only small-volume transactions, rather than large-scale breeding, production, or sales, the application for a seedling registration certificate can be exempted.
Under a strict interpretation of current regulations, all sales of plant parts with reproductive capacity (such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, garlic, etc.) require a seedling industry registration certificate. The AFA stated that, based on the legislative intent of the "Plant Variety and Seedling Act," the management of the seedling industry focuses on seedling breeding and production management. Seedlings or their final products, if directly used for food, ornamentation, or educational materials, should not be restricted.
Additionally, some citizens have reported that some local governments do not accept registration applications from natural persons. The AFA stated that under current laws, both natural persons and legal entities can apply for a seedling industry registration certificate. This issue will be communicated to local governments through official interpretations to ensure consistency in regulations and enforcement. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150603