This module has been prepared to help readers, including farmers and other stakeholders, understand and guide discussions on the seed sector regulatory framework that may be applied within a country. It links the concepts of law and policy and emphasizes the roles that each can play to achieve maximum impact. It distinguishes between national seed policy that guides government actions and seed legislation, which is a body of legal provisions that specifically regulates seeds. This module focuses on those aspects that are of general application and, when appropriate, makes recommendations that can be adapted to specific institutional contexts. Finally, this module is intended for countries in which the seed sector is still evolving and often in transition to a more diverse competitive model. Different conditions would apply to those countries with a mature and stable seed industry.