This page is for EU and UK sprout producers, approved sprouting establishments, organic-leaning health-food distributors, and importers sourcing bulk sprouting-grade alfalfa (lucerne) seed (Medicago sativa) for the European market. KOHENOOR International, a Pakistan-based direct exporter since 1957, supplies untreated, food-grade, 90%+ germination alfalfa seed with the lot documentation and certificate support that consignments of seeds-for-sprouting need under EU law.
Europe leads global demand for sprouted seeds and microgreens, holding roughly 40% of the microgreens market by value, powered by strong health-and-nutrition awareness across Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Poland, the UK and the Nordics. Alfalfa (lucerne) sprouts are a supermarket staple in punnet salads and living-sprout trays, and clover, radish and fenugreek sprouts round out the category. For an approved EU sprouting establishment, seed is the controlling input for both yield and food-safety compliance — which is why European buyers demand traceable, documented seed from origin.
The EU regulates sprouts and seeds-for-sprouting more tightly than ordinary sowing seed, following the 2011 outbreak linked to sprouted seed. The framework a European buyer works within:
| Regulation | What it requires |
|---|---|
| Reg. (EU) 208/2013 | Traceability for sprouts and seeds intended for sprout production — each batch traceable one step back and one step forward; imported batches accompanied by an import record. |
| Reg. (EU) 210/2013 | Sprout-producing establishments must be approved by the competent authority (this applies to the sprouting establishment, not the seed grower). |
| Reg. (EU) 211/2013 (as amended by 704/2014) | Consignments of sprouts / seeds for sprouting imported from third countries must be accompanied by a certificate attesting compliance with hygiene, traceability and the microbiological criteria of Reg. (EC) 2073/2005. |
| Reg. (EC) 2073/2005 | Microbiological criteria — the Salmonella and STEC standards seed and sprouts are tested against. |
How KOHENOOR fits: approval of the sprouting establishment is the European buyer's responsibility. As the seed exporter, KOHENOOR supports your compliance by supplying traceable, sealed, numbered lots with a Certificate of Analysis, and by providing the import documentation (phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin) and Letters of Guarantee needed for your 208/2013 traceability file. For consignments requiring the 211/2013 certificate, we coordinate the attesting documentation with the relevant Pakistani authority. Tell us the destination EU member state and we will confirm the exact certificate set before shipment.
| Parameter | KOHENOOR sprouting-grade alfalfa |
|---|---|
| Species | Medicago sativa (alfalfa / lucerne) |
| Germination | 90%+ (per lot) |
| Physical purity | 99.9% — Sortex optical-sorted |
| Dodder (Cuscuta) | 0.00% — tested every lot |
| Microbiological | Testable to Reg. (EC) 2073/2005 criteria (Salmonella, STEC) on request |
| Treatment | Untreated (food-grade) |
| GMO status | Non-GMO (EU-relevant — no GMO alfalfa authorised for EU food/feed by default sourcing) |
| Packaging | 25 kg PP / food-grade liner; 1 MT FIBC; private label available |
Minimum order is a 500 kg trial; a 20 ft container (≈20 MT) earns the best CIF rate. We quote CIF to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Felixstowe (UK), Genoa and Valencia, or FOB Karachi for your own consolidation. Payment by irrevocable LC or TT. Lead time 25–35 days PO-to-sailing plus transit (typically 15–20 days Karachi–North Europe). Pakistani-origin pricing lands 30–40% below EU-origin seed even after freight, which is why European sprout houses trial a container and re-order on programme.
Copy, fill and send via WhatsApp or email:
Company: ____ · EU/UK destination port: ____ · Member state of use: ____ · Product: Sprouting-grade alfalfa seed · Quantity: ____ (kg/MT) · Arrival month: ____ · Certificates needed: 211/2013 attestation / phyto / COO / COA / microbiological / Non-GMO LoG
Yes — for consignments of seeds intended for sprout production imported into the EU, we coordinate the attesting certificate with the relevant Pakistani authority, alongside the standard phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin. Confirm your destination member state and we will detail the exact set before shipment.
Approval under Reg. (EU) 210/2013 applies to the sprout-producing establishment (the buyer), not to the seed exporter. We supply the traceable, documented seed your approved operation needs; approval of your premises is arranged with your national competent authority.
Lot testing against the Salmonella and STEC criteria of Reg. (EC) 2073/2005 is available on request, with a Letter of Guarantee against Salmonella and E. coli.
Yes to both — sprouting lots are supplied untreated and Pakistani-origin alfalfa is non-GMO by default. Letters of Guarantee for each are free on request.
500 kg trial or a 20 MT container; 25–35 days PO-to-sailing plus 15–20 days transit to North Europe. WhatsApp +92 310 4929292 for a 24-hour quote.
Sprouting seeds — main page · Alfalfa seeds Germany · EU-organic supplier · ISTA-certified · Non-GMO
Part of the Kohenoor International group · Sister site: dairyseeds.com