Seed Act

Introduction

• In order to ensure the availability of quality seeds,

Government of India has enacted Seeds Act, 1966 and Seed
rules, 1968.

• The seed (Control) order, 1983 was promulgated under

essential commodities act, 1955 in order to ensure the
production, marketing and equal distribution of the seeds.
 Seeds Act, 1966

• The object of Seed Act is to regulate the quality of certain

notified kind / varieties of seeds for sale and for matters
connected therewith.
• The seed act passed by the Indian Parliament in 1966
• Seeds rule under the act was notified in September 1968
• The act was implemented entirely in October, 1969.
• This act extent to the whole of India and it has 25 sections.
• Seed legislation could broadly be divided into two groups
1. Sanctioning legislation
2. Regulatory legislation
 1. Sanctioning legislation

• Sanctioning legislation authorizes formation of

– Advisory bodies,
– Seed Certification Agencies,
– Seed Testing laboratories,
– Foundation and Certified Seed Programmes,
– Recognition of Seed certification Agencies of Foreign
countries, Appellate authorities etc.
 2. Regulatory legislation

• Regulatory Legislation controls the quality of seeds sold in the

market including suitable agencies for regulating the seed
quality.
• On quality control basis, the Seeds Act could conveniently be
divided into the following:
I. Minimum limit and labelling of the notified kind / varieties
of seed
II. Seed Certification
III. Restriction of Import and Export of Seeds
 1. Minimum limits and labelling
(a) Power to notify the kind / varieties

• New varieties evolved by the State Agricultural Universities

and ICAR institutes are notified and released /notified
under section 5, section 3 and 3(5) of the Seeds Act,
respectively.
• List of varieties notified and denotified from 1969 to 2005
are compiled and made available in the form of a book called
catalogue of varieties notified and denotified.
• Functions of the Central Seed Committee and its sub-
committee are defined in Clauses 3 and 4 of part II of seed
rule.
 (b) Labelling provision

• Minimum limits for seed standards under section 6(a)

• Size, colour and content of label under sub clause (b) of Sec 6
• Colour of the label is opal green and size is 10 cm x 15 cm
• Responsibility for making labelling content, manner of
marking, false / misleading statement on label etc, are defined
under clause 7,8,9,10,11 and 12 of part V of seeds rule.
• Regulation of the sale of notified varieties under Section 7
where No person shall sale or supply seed after the dates
recorded on the label.
• The seed can be retained if the germination is as prescribed
under clause (a) of section 6.
 (c) Seed Testing

• Setting up of central and state seed laboratory under section

4(1) and 4(2).

• At present there are 86 Seed testing laboratories functioning

in the country.

• Seed testing laboratories have been assigned certain

important functions under part III (5)
 (d) Seed Analysts

• Appointment of the Seed Analysts by State Government

through Official Gazette notification under Section 12

• Seed Analyst should posses certain minimum qualification as

prescribed under clause 20 part IX of Seed Rule.
 (e) Seed Inspectors
• The State Government, under section 13 appoints Seed
Inspector having prescribed qualification (Clause 22 part IX)
• Treated as a public servant under section 21 of the I.P.C.
• Power to examine records, register documents of seed dealer.
• Has other powers necessary for carrying out the purposes of
this Act or rule made there under.
• His duties are defined in clause 23 of part IX of Seed rule.
• He can issue, stop sale order in case the seed in question
contravenes the provision of relevant Act and rules for which
he can use form No. III.
• When he seizes any record, he should inform a magistrate
and take his order for which he can use form No. IV.
 (f) Penalty

• Under section 19, any person contravening the Act or Rule, or

duties of seed inspector will be punished of the act with a fine
of five hundred rupees for the first offence.

• Further cases results in the imprisonment up to six months or

with fine, which may extent to one thousand rupees or with
both.
 II. Seed certification

• Objective: to maintain and make available to the public

through certification high quality propagating material of
notified varieties to ensure genetic identity and purity.
• Indian minimum seed certification standards and procedures
together form seed certification regulations.
• Only notified varieties seeds under Section 5 are eligible
• Classes of seed:
– Breeder seed
– Foundation seed
– Certified Seed
 Breeder seed

• Breeder seed is a seed directly controlled by the breeder.

• Breeder seed should be genetically so pure as to guarantee
the same in the subsequent generation.
• Doesn’t come under seed certification and not meant for
public sale.
• Breeder seed should be packed and supplied with breeder's
golden yellow colour tag as per the guideline given in Indian
Minimum Seed Certification standards.
• It is also the fact that no standards for breeder seed have
been prescribed.
 Foundation seed

• Foundation class of seed and certified class of seed are to be

certified by the Certification Agencies as per the Indian
Minimum Seed Certification Standards.

• Section 8 of the Seeds Act provide state government or the

Central Government consultation with State Government,
may be notification in official gazette, established certification
agencies for the state to carry out the functions entrusted to
certification agency by or under this Act (Part IV, clause 6 and
part VI clause 14 of Seeds Rule).
 Certified seed

• Seed act section 9 provides registration with concerned seed

certification agency duly remitting the prescribed fee in form
No.1 for grant of certificate.
• Certificate grant- form No.11 after meeting the requirements
prescribed under Part VII clause 15, 16 and 17
• It should have the minimum genetic purity of 99%
• Certified seed may be the progeny of certified seed , provided
this does not exceed two generations beyond foundation
seed and provided that if certification agency determines the
genetic and physical purity, if not be significantly altered
• In case of highly self pollinated crops certification of one
further generation may be permitted
• Certified seed produced from certified seed, shall be
eligible for further seed increase under certification,
except in case of highly self pollinated crops, where
certification of one further generation may be permitted
• Certification tags issued once for certified seed not
eligible for further seed increase under certification
• For paddy and wheat, certified seed produced from
certified seed is eligible for certification by NSC up to two
generations from foundation seed
III. Restriction on export and import of
seeds of notified kinds or varieties
• No person shall, for the purpose of sowing or planting by any
person (including himself), export or import or cause to be
exported or imported any seed of any notified kind or variety,
unless:
a. It conforms to the minimum limits of germination and
purity specified for that seed under clause (a) of section 6;
and
b. Its container bears, in the prescribed manner, the mark or
label with the correct particulars thereof specified for that
seed under clause (b) of section 6.