This document summarizes the key concepts around seed regulations in India, including the various acts and policies that govern the seed sector. It outlines the major governing bodies and organizations in the Indian seed network. It also discusses some of the challenges in the seed sector, such as the need for climate-resilient and biofortified varieties, expansion to new areas, and strengthening of quality control systems. The document argues for reforms and a revised regulatory framework to address changes in seed technologies and industry structures over the past several decades.

1. Seed Regulations in India:
Concepts & Challenges
September 26, 2023
Dr. D.K. Yadava
adgseedicar@gmail.com
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
Department of Agricultural Research and Education
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Crop
Animal
Research
Education
Extension
National Seminar on Regulations &
Governance Issues in Indian Seed Sector
At NASC Complex, Pusa

2. DARE – Indian Council of Agricultural Research
General Body, ICAR Society
Governing Body, ICAR
Deputy Directors General
Crop Science (28)
Horticulture (23)
Natural Resource Management (15)
Animal Science (18)
Fisheries (8)
Ag. Engineering (6)
Ag. Education (4) (73 AUs)
Ag. Extension (11 ATARIs & 731 KVKs)
Agriculture Minister & President,
ICAR, Society
Secretary, DARE &
Director General, ICAR
Addl. Secretary & Financial Advisor
(DARE)
Addl. Secretary, DARE &
Secretary, ICAR

3. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Transforming agriculture in India

4. Indian Agriculture after Independence
Agricultural Revolutions
Green (crop) White (milk) Blue (fish) Yellow (oil)
Golden (hort. &
honey)
Silver (egg) Brown (coffee) Grey (wool)
Increase (3-63 times) in production since 1950 with 1.1-1.3
times increase in net cultivated area.

5. Crops No. of varieties
notified
1969-2023
No. of varieties
released
2014-2023
Climate resilient
varieties
2014-23
Biofortified
varieties
Cereals 3020 1092 891 89
Oilseeds 1005 343 319 15
Pulses 1110 343 338 2
Fibre crops 551 279 182 -
Forage crops 241 137 103 -
Sugar crops 147 68 45 -
Others 50 17 10 8
Grand Total 6124 2279 1888 114
Field crop varieties (1969-2023)
During past eight years 402 varieties of horticultural crops notified
85 Field crops; 210 Horticultural crops

6. Broad categorization of seed supply systems in India
Formal system Informal system
Farmers saved seeds
•Gift/barter/social obligation
•Sale on cash
Public Sector
• NSC, SSCs
• ICAR/SAU’s
Private Sector
• Seed industry
• Retail shops
MIXED

7. Seed System In India: A Strong Seed Network
DAC
(Coordination)
DIRECTOR AGRICULTURE
SEED ASSOCIATIONS OF INDIA
Cooperatives, NGOs. VO, FPOs
GOVT. SEED CORPORATIONS
NUCLEOUS & BREEDER SEED PRODUCER
ICAR Institutes/SAUs/NSC
FOUNDATION
SEED
CERTIFIED
SEED
QUALITY CONTROL
SSCAs: 25 &
STLs: 172
FARMERS COMMERCIAL CROP
•National Seed Corp. Ltd.
•STATE SEED CORP. (17)
•ICAR Institutes (65)
•State Agril Univ. (48)
•Central Agril Univ. (3)
•KVK (731)
•PRIVATE SECTOR (550/110)
•PSU/ COOPERATIVES (7)
(IFFDC, NAFED, NFL, HIL,
NDDB, KRIBHCO, MSSCS)
• NGOs, VOs, FPOs
•Seed Hubs, Seed Village
AICRP Seed – 43 centres
ICAR Seed Project – 65
centres
TRUTHFULLY LABELLED
SEED
20 ISTA Membership
8 ISTA accredited (6
private+2 Public)

8. Trends in Breeder Seed Production

9. • The Seeds Act, 1966 and its amendments,
• Seeds Rules, 1968 and its amendments,
• Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 (under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955),
• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001 (PPVFR Act) etc.
• The Biological Diversity Act 2002/ 2023
Seed Legislations governing Seed Sector in India

10. The Seeds Act 1966 (Act No.54 of 1966)
Passed on: [29th December, 1966]
Come into force: October, 1969
Objective:
• An Act to provide for regulating the quality of certain seeds for sale,
• and for matters connected therewith.

11. The Seeds Act 1966 (25 section)
Section Subject
1 Short Title, Extent and Commencement
2 Definitions
3 Central Seed Committee
4 Central Seed Laboratory and State Seed Laboratory
5 Power to notify kinds or varieties of seeds
6 Power to specify minimum limits of ger. and purity, etc.
7 Regulation of sale of seeds of notified kinds or varieties
8 Certification agency
9 Grant of certificate by certification agency
10 Revocation of certificate
11 Appeal
12 Seed Analysts

12. Section Subject
13 Seed Inspectors
14 Powers of Seed Inspector
15 Procedure to be followed by Seed Inspectors
16 Report of Seed Analyst
17 Restriction on export and import of seeds of notified kinds or varieties
18 Recognition of SC agencies of foreign countries
19 Penalty
20 Forfeiture of property
21 Offences by companies
22 Protection of action taken in good faith
23 Power to give directions
24 Exemption
25 Power to make rules

13. • Seeds Rules 1968: 39 rules in XI Parts
• Seeds (Amendment) Act 1972:
➢ Sec 2, Insertion in 8A-E (CSCB); Sec 9 (minimum standards),
➢ Sec 25 (standards to which seed confirms)
• Seeds (Amendment) Act 1973:
➢ Rule 19, 21, 23 of Seed Rules 1968
• Seeds (Amendment) Rules 1974:
➢ Insertion of 23A Action by seed inspector
• Seeds (Amendment) Rules 1981:
➢ Insertion of 17A IMSCS
• Seeds Control Order, 1983 (under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955):
➢ Dealers in seeds to be licensed, Enforcement Authority

14. Plants, Fruits and Seeds (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 1984
New Policy on Seed Development 1988:
a) The import of high quality seeds:
b) A time bound-programme to strengthen/modernise plant quarantine facilities
c) Effective observance of procedures for quarantine/Post Entry Quarantine
d) Incentives to encourage the domestic seed industry.
New Policy on Import of Seeds/Planting material
i) Seeds of wheat and Paddy;
ii) Seeds of course cereals, pulses and oliseeds
iii)Seeds of vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants;
iv) Tubers and bulbs of flowers
v) Cuttings/saplings etc. of flowers;
vi) Seeds/Planting materials of fruits.

15. National Seed Policy 2002
• Varietal development and plant variety protection
• Seed production
• Quality assurance
• Seed distribution and marketing
• Infrastructure facilities
• Transgenic plant varieties
• Import of seeds and planting material
• Export of seeds
• Promotion of domestic seed industry
• Strengthening of monitoring system

16. The Biological Diversity Act 2002
• The Act covers conservation, use of biological resources and associated
knowledge occurring in India for commercial or research purposes or for
the purposes of bio-survey and bio-utilisation.
• It provides a framework for access to biological resources and sharing the
benefits arising out of such access and use.
• The Act also includes in its ambit the transfer of research results and
application for intellectual property rights (IPRs) relating to Indian
biological resources.
• The Act covers foreigners, non-resident Indians, body corporate,
association or organization that is either not incorporated in India or
incorporated in India with non-Indian participation in its share capital or
management.

17. The seeds sector has witnessed many changes since 1966 like:
New technologies such as GM seeds, entry of private and foreign seeds companies
In order to address these changes, the proposed Seeds Bill, 2004/2020 seeks to
replace the Seeds Act, 1966. The principal changes required/proposed:
• Definitions (“Agriculture” includes horticulture, forestry, cultivation of
plantation, medicinal and aromatic plants and mulberry)
• Registration and other sub-committees of the Committee and their functions
• Maintenance of National Register of varieties
• Registration of any Variety including transgenics, Seed producer, Seed
dealer, Plant nursery, Seed processing unit
• Evaluation of performance
• Compensation to farmers
• Powers to specify minimum limits of germination, purity, seed health, etc.
• Accreditation of Seed Certification Agencies/ STLs
• Offences and punishments

18. Development
• Demonstration of new varieties through KVKs/ Extension platforms-Awareness
• Inclusion of climate resilient and biofortified HYV in state/zonal package –
Wider choice
• Rolling Plans with New varieties – Enhanced VRR
• Breeder seed indents – Enhanced SRR
• Improved PoP, selection of varieties etc. - Reduce yield gaps
• Reaching the unreached – NEH and Remote areas in other parts
• Enhancing share in International Seed Trade
• Strengthening of ISTA/ NABL Accreditation of Seed Testing Laboratories – Online
Challenges and Way forward

19. Research
• To compete with global productivity levels, development of high genetic
potential, climate resilient and biofortified varieties of crops through use of
modern biotech tools like Genome editing, GE, Speed Breeding, MAS,
DH, Bioavailability studies etc.
• Strengthening PPP beyond SEED through crop/trait based consortium
research platform, HRD and extension complementing capabilities of both
sector
• Research on seed palleting, coating through various techniques on more
tolerants/ growth promoters, nutrients, pesticide; and certification of
treated/ paletted/ coated seed
• Quick detection tools for genetic purity, varietal identification and quality

20. Policy
• GM Crops
• Genome editing tech – IPR issues
• Harmonization of licensing system across states – Seed (Control) Order 1983
• Revision of New Policy on Seed Development 1988
• Seed traceability system – robust data base
• Strong enforcement of regulations
• Phasing out of tender system
• Development of mechanism to regulate un-notified varieties/hybrids
• Devise a system for quality control of Truthfully labelled Seed
• Accreditation/ notification of private seed testing/ certification agencies
• DIGITALIZATION FOR TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICINECY

21. Thank You