Under the Planting Material Law, seedlings of fruit, grapevine, vegetables, ornamental and other plants may be produced only by a company, other legal entity or sole trader entered in the Register of Producers, and by an individual only under a cooperation contract with a registered producer. Retail sale is carried out by a company, legal entity or sole trader entered in the Register for Retail Trade in Planting Material, with a qualified person in every shop. A small producer selling to end customers on the local market reports the place of production and sale and may then sell at a market, stall, fair or exhibition, but not fruit and grapevine seedlings. Selling outside a sales outlet is an offence: an individual pays 100 to 500 euros, a sole trader 150 to 1,000 euros and a company 500 to 20,000 euros.
This guide helps before you offer seedlings from your own garden at a market or in a listing.
Who may produce and sell seedlings?
| Who | What they may do | Condition |
| registered producer | production and sale at the place of production | entry in the Register of Producers of Planting Material |
| individual | production in cooperation with a producer | cooperation contract, a copy is sent to the administration body |
| wholesaler | wholesale trade | entry in the register, a level VII specialist and a storage or sales facility |
| retailer | sale in a shop | entry in the register and a level IV specialist in every shop |
| florist | retail sale of ornamental plants | responsible person with level IV qualification and registration of the sales point |
| small producer | sale at markets, stalls, fairs and exhibitions, except fruit and grapevine seedlings | registration of the place of production and sale and entry in the records of the administration body |
- A small producer sells for final use to customers who are not professionally involved in plant production, and only if there is no risk of spreading harmful organisms.
- Registered producers may sell seedlings at the place of production.
What must a seedling on sale have?
- Planting material on the market must match the declared species and variety.
- It is sold in the original packaging, with a declaration attached to the delivery note and a label on the seedlings individually or in a group.
- In retail, smaller quantities may be sold from an original bundle, provided the declaration stays with the rest of the packaging.
- The variety or rootstock must be entered in the Register of Varieties and Rootstocks, with a certificate recognising the production.
- The declaration and label of imported seedlings are translated into Montenegrin before sale.
- Seedlings are stored and kept so that their quality is preserved.
How high are the fines?
| Offence | Individual | Sole trader | Company |
| production without registration or without a cooperation contract | €100 to €500 | €150 to €1,000 | €500 to €20,000 |
| trading without entry in the trade register | €100 to €500 | €150 to €1,000 | €500 to €20,000 |
| trading outside a sales outlet | €100 to €500 | €150 to €1,000 | €500 to €20,000 |
| seedlings without original packaging, declaration and label | €100 to €500 | €150 to €1,000 | €500 to €20,000 |
| variety or rootstock not entered in the register | €100 to €500 | €150 to €1,000 | €500 to €20,000 |
- In addition to the fine, a protective measure banning the activity for up to six months may be imposed.
For olive oil see the guide on selling olive oil, and for wine the guide on selling homemade wine. The rules for homemade food products are in the guide on selling homemade food, and opening hours and stall rental in the guide on Podgorica markets.
Frequently asked questions
May I sell tomato seedlings I grew myself at a market? A small producer may, if they have reported the place of production and sale and are entered in the records of the administration body, provided the conditions for preserving quality and plant health are met.
Can I sell fruit or grapevine seedlings at a stall? No, the exception for small producers at markets, stalls, fairs and exhibitions does not apply to fruit and grapevine seedlings.
Who may sell fruit seedlings? A registered producer at the place of production and a trader entered in the trade register, in a sales outlet.
What must come with a seedling? A seedling comes with a declaration and a label, and the species and variety must match what is declared.
What is the fine for selling seedlings outside a sales outlet? For an individual 100 to 500 euros, for a sole trader 150 to 1,000 euros and for a company 500 to 20,000 euros.
Do I need to register to sell a few seedlings through a listing? The law ties trade in seedlings to registered producers and traders, and small producers to registering the place of production and sale; trading outside a sales outlet is an offence.
Sources
The conditions for production and trade are set by the Planting Material Law (Official Gazette of the Republic of Montenegro 28/2006), and Articles 5, 21 and 24 and the penalty provisions of Article 63 were amended by the Law Amending the Planting Material Law (Official Gazette 47/2015). Information checked on 30 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.