FOUR THOUSAND cards have been sent to professional advisors reminding them of the legal obligations for farmers using farm-saved seed.

The weather-proof cards from the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) have been sent to agronomists, accountants, farm secretaries and business advisers.

The cards are part of the BSPB’s ongoing ‘Fair Play’ campaign and highlight four key points:

• Farmers are legally obliged to declare their use of FSS and pay for the use of eligible varieties
  
• FSS must be produced and saved within a farmer’s own business
  
• FSS rules apply to processed or unprocessed seed
  
• The use of ‘zero rated’ varieties must be declared to BSPB

The Fair Play campaign aims to crack down on the evasion of FSS payments and ensure all farmers are clear of their obligations, commented BSPB chairman, Chris Green.

“It is vital that any professional advice provided to farmers is based on a proper understanding of the legal position. We hope the reference cards will serve as a handy reminder of the key points to bear in mind to ensure farmers stay on the right side of the law.”

Further information on the campaign, which was launched in June this year, can be found at www.fairplay.org.uk