The Seed Rules of 1968 were framed to implement the Seed Act of 1966 in India. The rules contain 11 parts and 39 rules. Key parts include establishing a Central Seed Committee to recommend standards and procedures for seed certification and testing. A Central Seed Laboratory was formed to coordinate testing between state laboratories. Seed certification agencies were tasked with outlining certification procedures and inspecting seed production and processing. Labeling requirements for certified seed were established. Three classes of certified seed were specified - foundation, registered, and certified - along with requirements to carry out seed businesses. An appeals process was created for challenging certification decisions. Seed analysts and inspectors were made responsible for sampling and enforcing the rules.

1. SEED RULeS , 1968 (ACT. No 54 of 1966)
The Rules were framed to implement various legislations given
under SEED ACT, 1966 . It contains 11 Section (or) Part and 39 Rules.
I. Preliminary
II. Central Seed Committee
III. Central Seed Laboratory
IV. Seed Certification Agency
V. Marking or Labelling
VI. Requirements
VII. Certification of Seeds
VIII. Appeals
IX. Seed Analysts and Seed Inspectors
X. Sealing, Fastening, Despatch and Analysis of Samples
XI. Miscellaneous

2. PART I - Preliminary :
It contain Rule 1 & 2(Short Title& Definitions)
 This section provides short title and Definitions
of various terminolgy used under the seed rule .
i.e:Act , certification sample, certification tag.....,

3. PART II – Central Seed Committee :( Rule 3 to 4)
3. Functions of the Central Seed Committee.
4. Travelling and Daily Allowances Payable to Members
of the Committee and its subCommittees.
 Recommendation for seed testing fee,
 Advise the Central or State Governments on the
suitability of seed testing laboratories,
 Recommend the procedure and standards for
certification, tests and analysis of seeds
 Also the rule provide details of Traveling and daily
allowances payable to the members of the
committee.

4. PART III – Central Seed Laboratory:
5. Functions:
This section describes the specific functions
entrusted to the central seed laboratory such as:,
Coordinating with state seed laboratories for
uniformity in test results
Collecting data on Quanlity of seeds available in
the market
Any other function assigned by the Central
Government.

5. PART IV – Seed Certification Agency
6. Functions of the Certification Agency:
- This section deals with the specific functions
enrusted to the Certification Agency such as:
 Outlining to procedure for submission of
applicantions , growing , harvesting , and processing
and storage of seeds intented for certification,
 Maintaining a list of recognized nuclues seed breeders,
 Inspectation of seed production fields ,seed processing
plant and seed stores , grant of certificates.

6. PART V - Marking or labeling
7. Responsibility for marking or labeling
8. Contents of the mark or label
9. Manner of marking or labeling the container under clause (c) of section 7 and clause (b)
of section 17
10. Mark or label not to contain false or misleading statement
11. Mark or label not to contain reference to the act or rules contradictory to required
particulars
12. Denial of responsibility for mark or label content prohibited
The Label Should Contain :
-The name ,the address of the person offering the sale of the seed ,
Name of the variety ,Germination and Purity level of the seed ,
Net Weight of the seed ,
Date of seed testing and a statement of if the seed is treated,
Any transparent cover used solely for the purose of packing during trnsport or
delivery need not be marked or labeled

7. PART VI- Requirements
13. Requirements to be complied with by a person carrying on
the business referred to in section 7
14. Classes and sources of certified seed
3 classes of certified seed have been specified in this section:
Foundation seed (progeny of breeder seed)
Registered seed (progeny of foundation seed)
Certified seed (progeny of registered/certified seed)

8. PART VII - Certification of Seeds(Rule 15 ,16 , 17)
15. Application for the grant of a certificate:
Application forms has been outlined by the certification agency containing:
The name,details of the applicant
The name of the seed to be certified
Class and source of the seed
Germination and purity and mark or label
16. Fees:
A fees of Rs.25 is leveid for certification
Name and address of the certification agency.

9. 17. Certificate:
The certification tag shall contain the following particulars namely,
 Name of variety ,
 Lot number ,
 Name and address of the producer ,
 Date of issue of it’s certificate and is validity , an appropriate
sign , to designate certified seed and
 Color of the tag.
The holder of the certificate shall allow any seed inspector to enter and
inspect the seeds kept for sale ,registers or other document.
Amundment 17-A:
The Certification agency shall, before granting the certificate, ensure that the
Seed conforms to the standards laid down in the Manual known as "Indian
Minimum Seed Certification Standards" published by the Central Seed
Committee, which is commonly called BLUE BOOK. (Amendment No.18-
48/81-SD, dated 10th June, 1981)

10. PART VIII- APPEALS (Rule 18 , 19)
18. The form and manner in which and the fee on payment of
which the Appeal may be preferred:
 provision for appeal has been provided by submitting a memorandum
accompanied by a treasury receipt for Rs.100.
19. Procedure to be followed by the appellate authority:
 In deciding appeals under the Act the Appellate authority shall exercise all
the powers which a Court has and shall follow the same procedure with a
Court follows in deciding appeals from the decree or order of an original
Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908).
Amendment – 1973(30 th june ):
In rule 19 of the Seeds Rule 1968the words , ‘shall exercise all
the powers which a Court has and’ shall be ommited.

11. PART IX - Seed Analysts and Seed Inspectors
(Rule 20-23)
20. Qualifications of Seed Analysts
21. Duties of a seed analyst
22. Qualification of Seed Inspectors
23. Duties of a Seed Inspector
23 (A)

12. PART X - Sealing, fastening, dispatch and
analysis of samples ( Rule 24-37)
24. Manner of taking samples
25. Containers to be labeled and addressed
26. Manner of packing, fastening and sealing the samples
27. Form of order clause (c ) of sub-section (1) of section 14 shall be Form III
28. Form of receipt of records Form IV
29. Samples how to sent to the Seed Analyst Form V
30. Memorandum and impression of seal to be sent separately
31. Addition of preservatives to samples
32. Nature and quantity of the preservative to be noted on the label
33. Analysis of the sample
34. Form of notice Form VI
35. Form of report under subsection (1) or subsection (2) of section 16
shall be delivered or sent in Form VII.
36. Fees under sub-section (2) of the 16 shall be Rs.10/- per sample
37. Retaining of the sample under clause (c) of Sub-section (2) of section 15

14. PART XI – Miscellaneous (Rule 38 , 39)
38. Records:
A person carrying on the business referred to in section 7 shall maintain
the following records, namely:
a. stock record of seed;
b. record of the sale of seeds.
39. Form of Memorandum:
The memorandum to be prepared under sub-section (4) of section 14
shall be in Form VIII.

23. By ,
V.MARUDHAMALAIAYN,
2019034054,
B.Sc,(HONS)Agriculture,
Don Bosco College of
REFERENCEs:
1. A.Kannan , K. Ramamoorthy , K .Sivasubramaniam,
Seed Legislation in India, Published by Agrobios, Jodhpur, 2006
E-References:
http://upseedcert.upsdc.gov.in/MediaGallery/Seed_Rules_1968.pdf
http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/ind18600.pdf
https://youtu.be/f6xjtHw9g2Q
https://www.latestlaws.com/bare-acts/central-acts-rules/food-
agriculture-laws/the-seeds-act-1966/seeds-rules-1968/