The guidelines for germplasm exchange include the basic facts that (1) seeds of unreleased barley lines are owned, usually by a breeder, who is responsible to his constituency which may be a public or private agency, and (2) distribution exposes the owner send seeds to potential problems and hazards stemming from uses outside these guidelines. Guidelines should recognize the question of equity and provide adequate safeguards that would encourage the sharing of germplasm. The following statement, subscribed to by the NBIC, represents a reasonable system for distribution of seedstocks of unreleased germplasm of barley:

"This seed is being distributed in accordance with the ‘Barley Workers Guidelines for Distribution of Germplasm’ adopted by the United States Barley Workers January 1981. Acceptance of this seed constitutes agreement.

1. The originating breeder, station or company has certain rights to the unreleased material. These rights are not waived with the distribution of seeds or plant materials but remain with the originator for dispersal at his initiative.
2. The recipient of unreleased seeds or plant material shall make no secondary distributions of germplasm without the permission of the owner/breeder.
3. The owner/breeder in distributing unreleased seeds or other propagating material, grants permission for use (1) in tests under the recipient’s control, (2) as a parent for making crosses from which selections will be made, (3) for induction of mutations. All other uses, such as testing in regional nurseries, increase and release as a cultivar, selection from the stock, use as parents in commercial F1 hybrids or synthetic or multiline cultivars, require written approval of the owner/breeder.
4. Plant materials of this nature entered in crop cultivar trials shall not be used for seed increase. Reasonable precautions to insure retention or recovery of plant materials at harvest shall be taken.
5. The distribution of barley germplasm stocks may impose additional restrictions on use or may waive any of the above.

It is encouraged that the guidelines as printed above, starting with the paragraph "This seed is being distributed….." and including the five specific guidelines, be included with each shipment of the unreleased seed.