17.—(1) The prohibition in regulation 14(1) shall not apply to the marketing by a producer of small quantities of seed for scientific purposes or selection work for which—
(a)an authorisation has been granted to the producer by the Department in accordance with this regulation, or
(b)an authorisation has been granted to the producer by or on behalf of—
(i)the Secretary of State;
(ii)the Scottish Ministers;
(iii)the National Assembly for Wales; or
(iv)a competent seed certification authority in another member State, pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) of the Beet Seed Directive.
(2) A producer in Northern Ireland may apply to the Department for a regulation 17 authorisation.
(3) An application made under this regulation shall be made in such form and manner and at such time as the Department shall require and shall be accompanied by such information as the Department may require for the purpose of determining whether to grant an authorisation.
(4) The Department shall not grant a regulation 17 authorisation in respect of seed of a genetically modified variety unless an authorisation is in force in respect of the variety concerned under either—
(a)Part C of the Deliberate Release Directive; or
(b)the Food and Feed Regulation.
(5) A regulation 17 authorisation may—
(a)specify the amount of seed that may be marketed under it, and
(b)impose such conditions as the Department may think necessary or desirable having regard to the nature of the scientific purpose or selection work involved and the nature of the seed to which the authorisation relates, including a condition relating to the keeping of records in respect of the marketing of the seed.