This article focuses on the implications of biosafety regulation on national seed policy. Biosafety regulation?the policies and procedures adopted to ensure the environmentally safe application of modern biotechnology, in particular, the release of genetically modified organisms?has been extensively discussed at various national and international fora. Much of the discussion has focused on developing guidelines, appropriate legal frameworks, and, at the international level, on developing a legally binding International Biosafety Protocol. A major challenge in emerging economies will be to build the necessary infrastructure and human capacities to implement international and national biosafety guidelines or laws. Biosafety regulation adds a new dimension to national seed policies, which now have to consider their role in the process leading to the commercial release of genetically-modified varieties, including environmental assessments. In addition to biosafety review and approval, GMO crops intended for commercial use also are subject to existing regulations for seed registration, and may involve sanitary and phytosanitary regulations governing import, as well. There is potential for the respective authorities to overlap, which could lead to discord between the agencies and confusion on the part of the proponent. Capacity building to deal with the development of, and trade in genetically-modified seeds presents a challenge to 'emerging economies' where regulatory agencies are often fragile and vulnerable to political change.