Marketplace rules and prohibited goods

These rules form part of the “Seller terms”. Their purpose is to ensure that the buyer receives what they see on the site and that no pests, diseases or invasive plants reach gardens.

1. What may be sold

Only FIEs and companies may sell on ALLIKASILM. Unregistered private individuals cannot be sellers.

1. Live plants for planting: potted, root-balled, bare-root, seedlings, rooted cuttings, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes. Only by a seller entered in the PTA register and authorised to issue plant passports, and only with its own passport on each trade unit.
2. Seeds, only in the packaging of a registered operator (a producer or packer in the register of PTA or of the equivalent authority of another EU country), labelled and, where required, with a plant passport. Home-saved seeds are not accepted from anyone.
   • Seeds of ornamental plants: only by a seller that has submitted a notification to PTA (Taimede paljundamise ja sordikaitse seadus § 4 lg 1, § 63 lg 2).
3. Seeds of vegetables, herbs, fodder and oil crops:
   • a seller that packs seeds itself: only after notifying PTA of packing (TPSKS § 95 lg 2), only purchased seeds of registered varieties, labelled, in packages of the prescribed size;
   • sealed, industrially packed packets may be resold by any seller, if the species is not on the list of seeds requiring a plant passport;
   • seeds on that list (tomato, pepper, bean, pea, onion, leek, sunflower, etc.): only with a plant passport on the packet and only by a seller entered in the PTA register (Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, Art. 79(1)(d) and Art. 81(1)(a); Taimekaitseseadus § 31 lg 1 p 2).
4. Garden goods such as pots, tools, covering material, fertilisers and soils may be sold by any seller. Fertilisers and soil improvers — only with CE marking (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009) or entered in the PTA Väetiseregister. Whoever packs or labels a fertiliser themselves (for example ash or compost) registers it themselves. If the package bears hazard symbols, list the warnings in the listing.
5. Other categories only subject to agreement with ALTRIX.

2. What may not be sold

1. Plants and seeds without a plant passport where a passport is mandatory.
2. Home-saved seeds and seeds without the packaging and labelling of a registered operator.
3. Invasive alien species on the EU list (Regulation (EU) 1143/2014, Union list: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141, as amended) and on the Estonian list “Looduslikku tasakaalu ohustavate võõrliikide nimekiri” (regulation of the Minister of the Environment No. 126 of 07.10.2004, Riigi Teataja; transactions in them are prohibited, Looduskaitseseadus § 57 lg 5). Plants on the Estonian list include, for example: Sosnowsky’s hogweed and giant hogweed, all ragweed species, Canadian goldenrod and giant goldenrod, Himalayan balsam, knotweeds (Japanese knotweed, giant knotweed and their hybrid), devil’s beggarticks, Nuttall’s waterweed and Brazilian waterweed.
4. Plants suspected of carrying quarantine pests and diseases, and plants from areas where PTA has imposed restrictions.
5. Plants and seeds imported from outside the EU without a phytosanitary certificate.
6. Protected species and plants dug up in the wild.
7. Protected varieties (plant variety rights, patent) without a licence from the right holder.
8. Plants and plant parts containing narcotic and psychotropic substances, and other plants whose trade is restricted by law.
9. Plant protection products (taimekaitsevahendid) — pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, including “bio” products — may not be sold: selling them requires registration and authorisations (Taimekaitseseadus). Fertilisers, soils, pots and tools may be sold.
10. Other chemicals without ALTRIX’s permission and without the permits required by law.
11. Damaged plants (broken branch, frost-damaged leaves, misshapen crown) without a note. Discounted plants are allowed with the label “Discounted” and a photo of the defect, provided the defect is not related to disease or pests and the plant is healthy. Diseased plants and plants with pests may not be sold.
12. Counterfeits, goods bearing third-party trade marks without authorisation, and goods that otherwise infringe the law.

3. Product page requirements

1. Name and Latin name of the plant, cultivar (if any).
2. Real photos: the same plant or the same batch. Photos from the internet only with the right to use them and with the note “cultivar photo”. At least one photo is required.
3. Size at the time of sale, pot volume, form of supply (pot, root ball, bare root).
4. Honest description: hardiness, growing conditions, characteristics. Untested claims (“flowers all summer”, “disease-free”) are not allowed.
5. No contact details: phone numbers, email, links, social media, invitations to buy directly. The contact filter hides them automatically; repeated attempts are a breach.
6. The seller writes the texts itself: in Estonian, which is mandatory, and in the other site languages, which is optional. ALLIKASILM does not translate sellers’ texts.

4. Review of goods and accounts

1. ALTRIX reviews each seller account before the first publication.
2. Each product is reviewed: “Under review” → “Published” or “Declined” with the reason stated.
3. ALTRIX may at any time request documents from the seller: the PTA register number and an extract from the register, the plant passport, the origin of the planting material, the variety licence.
4. ALTRIX may withdraw a product from sale pending clarification if there is doubt about its lawfulness or its safety for plant health.
5. How we check. Every listing is first checked by software. It looks for missing fields, a missing photo, a price of 0, banned categories and words, contact details, invasive species and live plants without a PTA number. If AI review is enabled, it checks whether the photo matches the name, whether the photo contains contact details or other people’s watermarks, and whether medicinal effects are claimed. If the software finds an obvious violation, the product immediately gets the status “Declined” with the reason — without human involvement. Other doubtful products are reviewed by an ALTRIX employee. Only a person restricts or closes an account. If you disagree with an automatic decline, reply to the email or write to info@allikasilm.ee and a person will review the decision.

5. Reporting a violation

1. Any visitor may report a product that breaches the law or these rules, using the “Report a violation” button on the product page or by email to info@allikasilm.ee.
2. In the notice state: the link to the product; what exactly violates the law or the rules and why; your name and email (for notices about child sexual abuse material the name is optional); and confirm that you are reporting in good faith and that the information is, in your view, accurate.
3. ALTRIX confirms receipt, reviews the notice without undue delay and informs the author of the decision and how to challenge it. If the decision was taken automatically, we will say so.
4. If a product is removed or an account is restricted, the seller receives a statement of reasons: what was decided, on what basis (law or clause of the rules), how the decision was taken (manually or automatically) and how to appeal it.
5. A decision may be appealed at info@allikasilm.ee within 6 months. ALTRIX examines the complaint and replies within 14 days. Reports of violations and statements of reasons follow Articles 16 and 17 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA).
6. If a quarantine pest is suspected, ALTRIX notifies PTA.
7. If there is a suspicion of a criminal offence threatening the life or safety of persons, ALTRIX immediately informs the police.

6. Consequences of breaches

1. First minor breach: the product is declined or removed, and the seller receives a warning stating the reason.
2. Repeated or serious breaches: restriction or suspension of the account, termination of the agreement under section 13 of the “Seller terms”.
3. Selling live plants without a passport, selling prohibited or quarantine plants, and bypassing the marketplace are serious breaches.
4. If a breach has caused ALTRIX costs or a fine, the seller reimburses them.

7. Contact details

ALTRIX OÜ, Pikk tn 78-21, 50603 Tartu linn, Tartu maakond, Eesti. Single point of contact for users and authorities: info@allikasilm.ee. Languages of communication: Estonian, Russian, English.