Notice of the General Office of the Provincial Government on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Seed Import and Export Production and Operation Licenses in Hainan Free Trade Port

Recently, Hainan issued the "Administrative Measures for the Import and Export Production and Operation License of Seeds in Hainan Free Trade Port" (← click for the full text). According to the "Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Authorizing the State Council to Temporarily Adjust the Application of Relevant Legal Provisions in the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone" and the "Overall Plan for the Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port", the application, issuance, supervision and management of seed production and operation licenses in Hainan Free Trade Port are stipulated. The measures will be implemented from December 20, 2021.

The agricultural and rural and forestry authorities of the Hainan Provincial People's Government are responsible for the approval and supervision of seed production and operation licenses for the import and export of crop seeds and forest and grass seeds (hereinafter referred to as seed production and operation licenses).
The application, acceptance, issuance and change of seed production and operation licenses are managed online, and the platform data is shared synchronously with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Those who apply for seed production and operation licenses shall submit application materials to the service window of the provincial people's government government service center or on the Hainan government service network. The production and operation licenses for crop seeds and forest and grass seeds shall be issued by the agricultural and rural and forestry authorities of the provincial people's government respectively.

Application conditions

★ Have a fixed office space in Hainan Free Trade Port;
★ Have corresponding quality inspection capabilities;
★ Have necessary processing equipment;
★ Have supporting storage facilities;
★ Have professional technicians;
★ Have legally operated varieties;
★ Other conditions stipulated by the agricultural, rural, forestry and grassland authorities of the State Council;
★ Foreign-invested enterprises applying for seed production and operation licenses shall, in addition to meeting conditions one to seven, also comply with the relevant provisions of the negative list.

Note: For those engaged in the import and export of crop seedlings and forest and grass seedlings, in addition to the above conditions, they shall also meet the following conditions:
Isolation facilities suitable for the scale of production and operation;
Disinfection facilities such as high-temperature sterilization.

Application materials

★ Application form for seed production and operation license;
★ Explanatory materials on office space, quality inspection capabilities, processing equipment, storage facilities, and operating varieties;
★ Explanatory materials on the basic situation of technical personnel in seed production, processing, storage, inspection, etc.;
★ For those who apply for the notice commitment system, a written commitment letter shall also be submitted.

License validity period

★ The validity period of the seed production and operation license is 5 years.
★ If the crop seed production and operation license continues to engage in seed production and operation after the expiration of the validity period, the producer and operator shall reapply 6 months before the expiration of the validity period.
★ If the forest and grass seed production and operation license needs to be renewed after the expiration of the validity period, the producer and operator shall reapply 30 days before the expiration of the validity period.