The developments of plant breeding and the emergence of seed laws in Europe and in USA Variety registration: origin, history and procedures (DUS and VCU) Seed quality control and certification: Rules for truth-in-labelling in USA; Operation of seed quality control and certification Special needs for Organic Agriculture: VCU testing in organic context; DUS testing in organic context; Organic seed market and the current rules; Evolution of seed standards in Europe. A recent development in Europe: conservation varieties: EU-rules on ‘Conservation Varieties’; Quality control, production and marketing Intellectual Property Rights and plant breeding: historical origin, Breeder’s Rights from Europe to the USA, Plant breeders rights and organic agriculture Discussion : EU and US comparison; Organic farming, seed policy and agricultural biodiversity