Seed inspectors are appointed by state governments to enforce seed quality control laws. They have various qualifications and duties including integrity, knowledge of seed standards, sampling procedures, and enforcement powers. Inspectors are responsible for drawing representative samples, sending them for analysis, investigating potential offenses, and taking actions like stop sale orders or seizures if standards are not met. They aim to educate industry and ensure compliance with laws to protect seed quality and the industry.

1. Duties and Responsibilities of Seed
Inspector
Manimurugan, C
Scientist
ICAR-IIVR-RRS, Sargatia

2. Seed Inspector
Under the provision given in Section 13 of Seed Act 1966 or Clause
12 of Seed Control Order 1983, the State Government may by
notification in the Official Gazette appoint Seed Inspectors and may
in such notification define the local area within which each such
Inspector shall exercise his jurisdiction.

3. Qualifications of Inspector
 Seed Inspector must have a huge
level of integrity, initiative and
above all pleasing manners.
 He should be tactful, discrete, fair,
friendly and firm when firmness is
needed in dealing with people.
 He must have no financial interest
in the seed industry.
 He must be totally dedicated to the
seed quality control in seed market
and healthy growth and
development of the industry.

4.  The Inspector must act an educator
and disseminate information and
cause seeds men to recognize the
benefits of complying with the Act.
 He should have right attitude towards
his work and the manner in which he
carries out his duties for successful
enforcement of the Act.
 The seed industry cannot carry out the
provisions of the Act unless they know
what is expected of them.

5. The Inspector must be a well-trained person and knowledgeable
in the following aspects of his duties.
 Clear-cut understanding about the provisions in the Seed Act,
Seed Rules and Seed Control order etc., and all notifications
relevant to his region.
 Knowledge of the kinds and varieties notified for his region
 Thorough with the seed standards and the minimum limits
prescribed for different crops in Indian Minimum Seed
Certification Standards.

6.  Ability to identify agricultural and horticultural seeds, objectionable and
harmful weed seeds and other common weed seeds, and varieties of
agricultural and horticultural seeds that can be identified readily.
 Thorough with the principles and procedures of seed sampling, division
and submission of samples and knowledge of seed testing laboratory
procedures and reports
 Have enough knowledge about all forms and details related to sampling,
despatch of samples, stopping and revoke of seed sales order, seizure
and related legal action.

7.  Have sufficient knowledge about seed production, certification,
processing, storage and marketing.
 Undergo periodic training programmes and refresher courses
 New Inspectors should undertake on-the-job training and should
work with more experienced Inspectors for a period to gain
sufficient field experience.

8. Use of Tolerance Table
 Tolerance tables are used in testing for significance
 Each table has a certain significance level
 A higher significance level gives a more rigorous
requirement than a lower one, because it gives a smaller
tolerable difference between the two compared values.

9.  A one-sided test is made to decide if an estimate is significantly
lower than a "specification".
 It may also be made to decide if a "second" estimate is
significantly lower than a "first" estimate.
 A two-sided test is made to decide if one value is significantly
different (i.e. either better or worse) from another one, or
conversely whether two estimates are compatible.

10. Purity tolerances
 These tolerances are suitable for comparing purity results on
duplicate samples from the same submitted sample analysed by
the same laboratory.
 These can be used for any component of the purity test (pure
seeds, inert matter, etc.).
 Tolerances in this table are based on a two-sided test at the 5%
significance level.

11. Examples
1. Purity tests on 2 half working samples from the same
submitted sample of X (any crop) were made in the same
laboratory
The first result: 97.0%
The second result: 98.4%
Average: 97.7%
Difference: 1.4%
Tolerated difference: 1.63 for chaffy seeds
Decision: the two results are compatible

12. 2. Purity tests on 2 half working samples from the same submitted
sample of X (any crop) were made in the same laboratory
The first result: 97.0%
The second result: 98.8%
Average: 97.9%
Difference: 1.8%
Tolerated difference: 1.54 for chaffy seeds
Decision: the two results are not compatible

13. Average of the two test
results
Tolerances for differences between
50-100% Less than
50%
Half working samples Whole working samples
Non-chaffy
seeds
Chaffy seeds Non-chaffy
seeds
Chaffy seeds
1 2 3 4 5 6
99.95-100.00 0.00-0.04 0.20 0.23 0.1 0.2
99.90-99.94 0.05-0.09 0.33 0.34 0.2 0.2
99.85-99.89 0.10-0.14 0.40 0.42 0.3 0.3
99.80-99.84 0.15-0.19 0.47 0.49 0.3 0.4
99.75-99.79 0.20-0.24 0.51 0.55 0.4 0.4
99.70-99.74 0.25-0.29 0.55 0.59 0.4 0.4
99.65-99.69 0.30-0.34 0.61 0.65 0.4 0.5
99.60-99.64 0.35-0.39 0.65 0.69 0.5 0.5
99.55-99.59 0.40-0.44 0.68 0.74 0.5 0.5
99.50-99.54 0.45-0.49 0.72 0.76 0.5 0.5
Cont…..
Tolerances for purity tests on the same submitted sample in the same
laboratory (two-way test at 5% significance level)

14. 99.40-99.49 0.50-0.59 0.76 0.82 0.5 0.6
99.30-99.39 0.60-0.69 0.83 0.89 0.6 0.6
99.20-99.29 0.70-0.79 0.89 0.95 0.6 0.7
99.10-99.19 0.80-0.89 0.95 1.00 0.7 0.7
99.00-99.09 0.90-0.99 1.00 1.06 0.7 0.8
98.75-98.99 1.00-1.24 1.07 1.15 0.8 0.8
98.50-98.74 1.25-1.49 1.19 1.26 0.8 0.9
98.25-98.49 1.50-1.74 1.29 1.37 0.9 1.0
Cont…..
98.00-98.24 1.75-1.99 1.37 1.47 1.0 1.0
97.75-97.99 2.00-2.24 1.44 1.54 1.0 1.1
97.50-97.74 2.25-2.49 1.53 1.63 1.1 1.2
97.25-97.49 2.50-2.74 1.60 1.70 1.1 1.2
97.00-97.24 2.75-2.99 1.67 1.78 1.2 1.3
96.50-96.99 3.00-3.49 1.77 1.88 1.3 1.3

15. 96.00-96.49 3.50-3.99 1.88 1.99 1.3 1.4
95.50-95.99 4.00-4.49 1.99 2.12 1.4 1.5
95.00-95.49 4.50-4.99 2.09 2.22 1.5 1.6
94.00-94.99 5.00-5.99 2.25 2.38 1.6 1.7
93.00-93.99 6.00-6.99 2.43 2.56 1.7 1.8
92.00-92.99 7.00-7.99 2.59 2.73 1.8 1.9
91.00-91.99 8.00-8.99 2.74 2.90 1.9 2.1
90.00-90.99 9.00-9.99 2.88 3.04 2.0 2.2
88.00-89.99 10.00-11.99 3.08 3.25 2.2 2.3
86.00-87.99 12.00-13.99 3.31 3.49 2.3 2.5
84.00-85.99 14.00-15.99 3.52 3.71 2.5 2.6
82.00-83.99 16.00-17.99 3.69 3.90 2.6 2.8
80.00-81.99 18.00-19.99 3.86 4.07 2.7 2.9
Cont…..

16. 78.00-79.99 20.00-21.99 4.00 4.23 2.8 3.0
76.00-77.99 22.00-23.99 4.14 4.37 2.9 3.1
74.00-75.99 24.00-25.99 4.26 4.50 3.0 3.2
72.00-73.99 26.00-27.99 4.37 4.61 3.1 3.3
70.00-71.99 26.00-29.99 4.47 4.71 3.2 3.3
65.00-69.99 30.00-34.99 4.61 4.86 3.3 3.4
60.00-64.99 35.00-39.99 4.77 5.02 3.4 3.6
50.00-59.99 40.00-49.99 4.89 5.16 3.5 3.7

17. Example.
1. Two germination tests were made in two different laboratories each
on 400 seeds form different submitted samples from the same lot.
The first result: 87% declared by the seller
The second result: 80% obtained by the customer
Average: 84%
Difference: 7%
Tolerated difference: 7%
Decision: The labelled value can be accepted
Germination tolerances

18. Tolerance for gemination tests on two different submitted samples in the
same or a different laboratory on 400 seeds
Average percentage Tolerance Average percentage Tolerance
More than
50%
50% or
less
More than
50%
50% or
less
1 2 3 1 2 3
99 2 2 82to86 15to19 7
97to98 3to4 3 76to81 20to25 8
94to96 5to7 4 70to75 26to31 9
91to93 8to10 5 60to69 32to41 10
87to90 11to14 6 51to59 42to50 11

19.  Separate tolerance table for 4 replicates of 100 seeds, 2 replicates of 100
seeds, 2 replicates of 50 seeds, 2 tests of 400 seeds, two tests of 200
seeds and 2 tests of 100 seeds were also given International Rules for
Seed Testing (ISTA, 2015)
 Tolerances for tetrazolium viability tests on the same or a different
submitted sample when tests are made in the same laboratory each on
400 seeds (two-way test at 2.5 % significance level)
 Tolerances for tetrazolium viability tests on two different submitted
samples in different laboratories each on 400 seeds (one-way test at 5 %
significance level)

20. Powers of Inspector
 Seed Inspector may draw representative samples from the seed lots of any
person selling, offering to sell, keeping for sale, bartering, conveying,
delivering or preparing to deliver such seed of any notified kind or variety. He
may also draw samples after the delivery of such seed to a purchaser or
consignee, if the container from which sample is to be drawn is intact.
 The representative sample must be sent for analysis, to the Analyst for the
region within which the sample has been drawn.
 He may enter any place in which he has reason to believe that an offence
under the Act has been or being committed and search at all reasonable
times, with such assistance, if any, as he considers necessary.

21.  He may issue a stop sale order and ordering the possessor of such seed
not to dispose of the concerned seed lot for a specific period not
exceeding 30 days, if the offence is such that it can be removed or
corrected.
 This provide time to the possessor of seed to correct the defect(s) and
intimate such action to the Inspector.
 If the Inspector satisfied about the removal of the defect(s) shall revoke
the stop sale order as in Annexure I.
 If the defect(s) cannot be removed or corrected, the inspector may issue a
seizure order in Form-IV of the Rules..

24.  He has power to break open the door of any premises where any
seed of any notified kind or variety may be kept for sale if the owner
or any person in occupation of the premises, in spite of being present,
refuses to open the door even upon request made by the Inspector.
 Any container may be broken by Inspector which contains any seed
of any notified kind or variety.
 Any record, document, register or any other material object found in
any place may be examined by Seed Inspector.

25.  He may issue a seizure order in Form-IV of the Rules and seize the
records, if he has reason to believe that the records etc., may furnish
evidence of the commission of an offence punishable under the Act.
 He may search or seize seed stock(s) and/or record(s) under the
Criminal Procedure Code, 1898.
 The relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 1898 (5 of
1898) regarding search of house suspected to contain stolen property,
forged documents, etc.

26. Duties of Inspector
 Seed Inspector shall give notice in writing in Form-VI of the Rules, to the person
from whose seed lots he intends to take samples, whenever he intends to take
sample of any seed of any notified kind or variety for analysis.
 When he draws sample(s), minimum two persons to be present as witnesses and
sign in Form-VIII of the Rules.
 The representative sample drawn by Seed Inspector shall be randomly divided in to
three equal and identical parts and:
a. One sample will be delivered to the person from whose seed lots the sample
has been drawn

27. b. Second sample will be sent along with Form-V of the Rules for analysis
to the Analyst for the area within which the sample has been drawn; and
c. The third sample will be retained for production in case any legal
proceedings are taken or for analysis by the Central Seed Laboratory if the
accused vendor or the complainant makes an application to the court for
sending the sample retained by the Inspector to the Central Seed
Laboratory for its report.

29. Form VIII

31.  Sometime the person from whose seed lot the samples have been drawn
refuses to accept one of the samples. It has to be intimated to the Analyst
and the samples so refused by the person has to be send to the Seed
Analyst.
 After doing proper mixing and dividing the sample will be divided into two
equal and identical parts by Analyst and after sealing or fastening, one of the
samples has to be delivered to the Inspector’s control. That will be retained
by Inspector for production in case legal proceedings are taken.
 Based on the necessary, the seed samples will be procured and send for
analysis by the Inspector which he has reason to suspect and kept for sale in
the seed market.

32.  He shall satisfy himself that the conditions laid down by the certification
agency are being observed in regard to issuance and revalidation of
certificate.
 The cost of the seed sample has to be paid by the Inspector, on demand
to the person from whose seed lot the sample is collected.
 He shall, as soon as possible, inform and take orders from magistrate for
the custody of the seized stock, records, registers, documents or
material object provided it furnishes evidence for commitment of offence.

33.  He shall be prompt in ascertaining whether or not the seed contravenes the
provisions of the Act and the Rules and if it is ascertained that the seed does
not contravene the provisions, revoke the order passed under Section-14 (1)(c)
and take such action as may be necessary for the return of the stock of the
seed and/or record(s) seized.
 He shall inspect as frequently as may be necessary all places used for storage
or sale of any seed of notified kind or variety.
 He shall investigate any complaint, which may be made to him in writing in
respect of any contravention of the provisions of the Act and/or Rules.

34.  He shall maintain a record of all inspections made, and action taken by him in
the performance of his duties, including the taking of samples and the seizure
of stocks
 Submit copies of such record to the Director of Agriculture or to such authority
as may be directed in this regard.
 He shall, when so authorized by the State Government, detain imported
containers, which contravene the provisions of the Act.
 In the case of persistent defaults, or obvious infringement of the provisions of
the Act and the Rules, he should promptly institute prosecution.

35. Mobility of and seed storage arrangements with Inspector
 Two important needs for Inspectors are mobility and storage space for seed samples.
 Mobility is vital for the success of the seed law enforcement programme. It is
essential that Inspectors are provided with suitable facilities for quick movement.
 The storage of seed samples retained by the Inspector is his responsibility. However,
recognizing his limitations in the location where he is working, it is recommended that
the laboratory may arrange for suitable storage of all the Inspector’s samples.
 The officer to whom the inspector is subordinate should ensure that the Inspector’s
samples are stored in a proper manner in a suitable location. Storage space should
be such that the viability of the seed is maintained for a reasonable period of time, at
least one year.

36. Ground level activities of
Seed Inspector

37.  Seed inspector receive his schedule online regarding his visit to all
the shops
 He can visit shops 2 days before or after receiving his schedule
 200 licence – than how many sample per shop?
 3-4 time a year per shop
 Minimum 3 time per shop
 All the licence also in online in TN for all the shop- SI can conform
weather licence is live or expired, before his visit to shop

38.  Target - 1000 samples per year (750 sample for germination test, max
50 sample for GOT mainly for cotton)
 Sample has been collected by inspector during season because
availability sample is more
 SI has to submit his report once in a month to his higher authority
 Any defect by dealer – SI can put STOP SALE ORDER for 7 or 15 or
up to 30 days
 Squad from other districts during season time for strict monitoring

39. Duties of dealer
 Shop should compulsorily display licence to public
 Display availability of seeds and price of seed
 Maintain stock entry and sale of seeds- from where purchased and sold to whom
 Bill should be duly signed by the purchaser of seed
 Dealers presence in shop is important when SI visit
 Submit report to SI once in 3 moths
 Storage place is most important – he should not keep seeds along with all chemicals

40. 1. Invoice
Eg Rice ADT-39 from where it is received
Problem is - tag number may be changed because of unskilled
person working with distributer – change the invoice ?
2. Expiry of seed can be identified by checking stock entry and
label
3.Bill and signature
Problems

41. 4.Less cost of seed compare to other shop then dealer is doing
some mistake
5.Absence of Dealer / owner of the shop – 3 continuous visit – SI
give notice to dealer and can impose stop sale order
6.Proper labelling - Necessary information printed on the label -
pasted label above the original is not acceptable
7.Stock register maintenance by dealer

42. 8.Disclaimer – season (kharif / rabi / summer) should be mentioned and if
the disclaimer out side the label – stop sale order
9.Quantity of seed should in weight not in number
10. Seed should not be sold in loose and bill should be for whole bag /
container. If the container size is 25kg the bill should not made in two part ie
one for 20kg another 5kg.
11. Non submission of report by the dealer to SI – generally 25-30 dealers
only submit the report once in 3 months
12. Prosecution – case filed by SI - dealer, distributor and producer because
of germination failure. The case may go some time 3 years with many
hearing

43. Thank you