The Millennium Seed Bank List
Conditions for making requests
- Seeds can only be supplied to bone fida individuals. After browsing the seed lists, customers will need to apply for registration (see below) before they will be able to place a seed order. The 'User Code' supplied during registration will be strictly for the registered user.
- Seed will only be supplied to users representing recognised organisations, who make requests on behalf of that organisation.
- No seed will be supplied to individuals acting in a private capacity. RBG Kew will not enter into correspondence on this matter.
- Users must complete and sign a legally-binding Material Supply Agreement (MSA) on behalf of their organisation when requesting seeds.
- Seed is only supplied for non-commercial purposes, as defined in the MSA.
- Users must prevent the spread of invasive plants and plant pests / pathogens. It is therefore essential that they follow the guidance given in the section below which should be read before proceeding with a seed order.
Prevention of the spread of invasive plants and plant pests / pathogens
The movement of germplasm (including seeds) may result in the introduction of invasive plants and plant pests / pathogens. The threats from such introductions are recognised by the International Plant Protection Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Thus, seeds should only be imported after careful consideration as outlined below.
Overseas correspondents must check with their national authorities concerning import regulations and must send any necessary permits with their request. It should be noted that it will not normally be possible to provide phytosanitary certificates for the seed lots dispatched.
Information on known invasive species that threaten biodiversity is available via the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group's Global Invasive Species Database at http://www.issg.org/database/. This database provides an initial prediction of regions in which the given species could become invasive. RBG Kew strongly encourages all seed list users to check this database and other available regional data sources for the species requested. However, it is not possible to reliably predict under which circumstances species will become invasive. Therefore, RBG Kew requires users to take all appropriate steps to contain the seeds supplied, the plants grown from them and (particularly) their progeny.
In addition, due to the risk of unforeseen pathogens, it is advisable that the germplasm is screened for diseases and kept in quarantine conditions even where this is beyond the requirements of national authorities.
