This document summarizes Pakistan's seed system and procedures. It provides a brief history of seed legislation in Pakistan since 1976. It describes the key institutions and their roles, including the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department. It outlines the seed certification process, variety registration requirements, and crop variety release system. It also provides data on certified seed availability and production, and summaries of regulations regarding seed imports.

1. DR MUHAMMAD ANJUM ALI
MEMBER
PLANT SCIENCES DIVISION (PSD)
PAKISTAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
SEED SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN
(STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES)
PRESENTATION AT INTERNATIONAL RICE TRAINING WORKSHOP
FOR AGRICULTURE PROFESSIONALS OCTOBER 2, 2018

2. BRIEF HISTORY
SEED ACT, 1976
1. Seed Industry Development
2. Project initiated with support from World Bank
INSTITUTIONS ESTABLISHED
1. National Seed Council
2. Provincial Seed Councils.
3. Federal Seed Certification Agency (FSCA)
4. National Seed Registration Agency (NSRA)
5. FSCA & NSRA merged as FSC&RD in 1997

3. FUNCTIONS OF LEAD AGENCY
FSC&RD
• Controlling the quality of seeds
• Certification of seeds after taking following steps
i. Crop Inspection
ii. Seed Sampling
iii. Seed Testing
• Issuance of Certification tags for accepted seed lots. &
intended for sale
• Providing technical and specialist advice to National
Seed Council in performing its functions
• Conducting pre-registration checking of varieties
i. determining suitability and preparation of botanical
descriptors of varieties (DUS trials)
ii. Providing information on Value for Cultivation & use (VCU)

4. FUNCTIONS OF LEAD AGENCY
FSC&RD
• Registration of varieties after performing pre-registration
checking
• Publication and Notification of registered seed varieties
• Conducting research in seed science and technology
• Registration of Seed Business
• Registration of Horticulture nurseries
• Seed quality monitoring in the market

5. SEED LAWS, RULES AND
REGULATIONS
Seed Laws/Rules Year of Notification
Seed Act, 1976 1976
Seed (Registration) Rules, 1987 1987
Procedures, Directions and Seed Standards, 1988
Seed (Truth-in-Labeling) Rules, 1991 1991
Pakistan Fruit Plants Certification Rules, 1998 1998
Seed (Amendment) Act, 2015 2015
Seed (Business Regulation) Rules, 2016 2016
Plant Breeders Rights Act, 2016 2016
Plant Breeders’ Rights Rules 2018

6. Formal System
Informal system
Farmer to
farmer
Farmer own
saved seed
Public sector Private sector
Research
Institutes
developing
varieties (Pre-
basic & Basic
seed)
Provincial Seed
corporations (3)
Basic & Certified
National
Seed
Companies
Multi-
national
seed
Companies
Importers
(certified
seed)
Quality Cover by;
Federal Seed
Certification &
Registration
Dept., Islamabad.
Purchased
from Aarti
SEED SUPPLY SYSTEM IN PAKISTAN

7. 1. PLANT VARIETY REGISTRATION
(REQUIREMENTS)
1. Application for variety registration on form A.
2. Seed sample of the candidate variety.
3. Morphological description of the candidate variety.
4. Undertaking by the applicant not to use gene
terminator technology in case of GMCs
5. Approval for commercialization by the national bio-
safety committee (NBC) in case of GMCs
6. Data regarding agronomic value.

8. Notification by the
Federal Government
CROP VARIETY DEVELOPMENT AND
RELEASE SYSTEM
Variety Release System
Breeder
Micro Trials
Zonal Trials
FSC&RD
(DUS)
PARC-VEC
(VCU)
Evaluation
FSRC Provincial Technical
Expert Sub-Committee
Provincial and National Seed Council
Commercial Seed Production
ABBREVIATIONS
DUS: Distinctness Uniformity Stability VEC: Variety Evaluation Committee
VCU: Value for Cultivation and Use FSRC: Federal Seed Registration Committee
FSC&RD: Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department
Approval & Release
FSC&RD

9. CROP No. of Registered and Released Varieties
Punjab Sindh KP Baluchista
n
Islamabad PVT Pakistan
Wheat 69 25 44 08 06 -- 152
Barley 05 - 03 04 --- 12
Maize 15 - 15 -- --- 02 32
Rice 25 14 07 --- --- -- 46
Cotton 105 30 02 --- --- 28 165
Sugarcane 16 13 16 --- -- 01 46
Pulses 49 04 21 01 05 -- 80
Oilseeds 27 05 23 -- 09 05 69
Fodders 31 --- 07 01 --- 02 41
Vegetables 51 01 13 08 --- -- 73
Fruits 19 02 36 -- -- -- 57
Flowers 03 - - - - - 03
Total 415 94 187 22 20 38 776
SUMMARY OF RELEASED VARIETIES

10. RICE VARIETY NAME BREEDING CENTRE PROVINCE Year of
Release
DR 83 RRI, Dokri, Larkana Sindh 1983
DR 92 RRI, Dokri, Larkana Sindh 1993
Fakhre-e-Malakand ARS, Mingora, Swat. NWFP 2003
IR 6 RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 1971
IRRI Pak RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 1969
Jhona 349 RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 1933
JP 5 ARS, Mingora, Swat NWFP 1958
Kanwal 95 RRI, Dokri Larkana Sindh 1997
Kashmir Nafis NIAB, Faisalabad Punjab 1981
Khushboo 95 NIA, Tandojam Sindh 1996
Kisan Basmati RRI, AARI, K.S. Kaku Punjab 2016
KS 282 RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 1982
KSK 133 RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab (Sindh) 2006
KSK-434 RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 2013
Lateefi RRI, Dokri, Larkana Sindh 1981
Mehak NIA, Tandojam Sindh 2006
NIA MEHRAN NIA, Tandojam Sindh 2014
NIAB-2013 (Hyb) NIAB, Faisalabad Punjab 2013

11. NIAB Basmati 2016 NIAB, Faisalabad Punjab 2016
Noor Basmati NIAB, Faisalabad Punjab 2017
NIAB IRRI 99 NIAB, Faisalabad Punjab 1999
Pakhal ARS, Mansehra NWFP 1993
Punjab Basmati RRI, AARI, K.S.Kaku Punjab 2016
Pk 177 RRI, ARRI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 1977
PK-386 RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 2013
PS-2 (PK-1121 Aromatic) RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 2013
Sadahayat RRI, Dokri, Larkana Sindh 1988
Shadab NIA, Tandojam Sindh 1987
Shandar NIA, Tandojam Sindh 2006
Shaheen Basmati SSRI, Pindi Bhattian Punjab 2000
Shahkar RRI, Dokri, Sindh 2006
Sarshar NIA, Tandojam Sindh 2001
Shua 92 NIA, Tandojam Sindh 1993
Super Basmati RRI, AARI, K. S. Kaku Punjab 1996
Swat I ARS, Mingora, Swat NWFP 1984
Swat II ARS, Mingora, Swat NWFP 1984
PUNJAB(25), SINDH (14),KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA(07)

12. 2. SEED CERTIFICATION
• Acceptance of a Seed Lot by FSC&RD
into one of the recognized seed
categories
• i.e. pre-basic, basic, certified &
approved after compliance of
certification procedure

13. 5 YEARS AREA, SEED REQUIREMENT AND SEED
AVAILABILITY
Crop Area Total seed
SEED AVAILABILITY (M.T)
000 Ha requirement
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Wheat 9,110 1,093,200 271,251 375,603 315,020 421,615 476,294
25% 35% 29% 39% 44%
Cotton 3,200 55,329 20,715 34,521 29,364 44,076 33,524
52% 86% 73% 80% 61%
Paddy 2,830 55,268 49,608 47,730 57,138 51,717 59,629
117% 105% 100% 94% 108%
Maize 1,109 33,261 14,008 18,328 19,829 24,251 20,543
44% 57% 59% 72% 62%

14. 5 YEARS AREA, SEED REQUIREMENT AND SEED
AVAILABILITY
Crop AREA TOTAL SEED SEED AVAILABILITY (M.T)
000 Ha requirement 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
PULSES 1,337 48,132 917 975 1,489 3,182 3,229
2% 2% 3% 7% 7%
OILSEEDS 830 10,790 2,039 1,791 591 631 285
19% 17% 6% 6% 3%
VEGETABLES 280 8,400 4,748 5,262 7,427 10,119 11,644
94% 104% 95% 120% 139%
FODDERS 2,038 61,140 20,940 27,770 37,335 36,499 40,835
52% 69% 93% 60% 67%
POTATO 149 372,725 4,281 8734 3,051 6,837 7,126
1% 2% 1% 2% 2%
Total 20,883 1,738,245 388,403 520,551 471,243 608,554 653,108
23% 31% 28% 35% 38%
FSC&R REPORT 2018

15. Year
Public
Sector
(MT)
% share of
Public
Sector
Private
Sector
(MT)
Total
(MT)
% share of
Private
Sector
2013-14 81,796 21% 304,071 385,867 79%
2014-15 80,956 16% 419,364 500,320 84%
2015-16 79,043 14% 485,549 564,592 86%
2016-17 78,211 12% 579,939 658,150 88%
SHARE OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SECTOR SEED AVAILABILITY

16. TRUTH IN LABELING RULES
1. Import of seed of only those varieties is allowed which
have been approved by the Agriculture Research
Institutes and entered and notified by the FSC&RD .
2. A small packet of seed not exceeding experimental
quantity up to 10 kg is allowed to be imported.
3. Annually around 3,000 seed testing certificates are
issued by FSC&RD for seed import consignments.
SEED IMPORT REGULATION

17. MARKING AND LABELING IMPORT
OF SEED
All imported seed shall bear a label with the
following information:
• Lot No.
• Crop/Species
• Variety
• Quantity
• Purity
• Germination %
• Other seeds %
• Month/Year of production
• Date of expiry

18. PROCEDURE FOR SEED IMPORTS’
REGULATION
REQUIREMENTS BEFORE COMMERCIAL IMPORT
i. 2 years adaptability/multi-location trials by Research
Institutes for commercial import
ii. Recommendation by VEC and Enlisting of varieties
based on performance in trials
REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME OF COMMERCIAL IMPORT
i. Examination of import documents and Notified Labeling
Requirements
ii. Drawing of samples by FSC&RD Inspectors
iii. Quality analysis of the drawn samples
iv. Issuance of Release orders by FSC&RD

19. SEED IMPORT OPV VS HYB
(PAKISTAN) LAST 03 YEARS
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Qty (MT) Value
(Billion Rs.)
Qty (MT) Value
(Billion Rs.)
Qty (MT) Value
(Billion Rs.)
Vegetables
OPV 6,629 1.94 7,684 1.37 8,144 1.70
HYB 852 3.26 1,325 3.62 816 3.59
Cereals
OPV 2,794 0.13 1,138 0.05 411 0.02
HYB 21,565 8.39 20,458 7.76 24,600 10.83
Fodders
OPV 20,153 2.81 14,590 2.23 17,856 2.62
HYB 19,829 2.02 21,546 1.65 19,179 1.57
Oilseeds
OPV 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.00
HYB 157 0.09 174 0.18 130 0.12
Potato
OPV 4,132 0.16 6,839 0.48 8,763 0.62
HYB 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00
Others +
Ornamental
OPV 172 0.06 279 0.13 195 0.12
0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00
TOTAL
OPV 33,879 5.10 30,531 4.27 35,371 5.08
HYB 42,403 13.75 43,503 13.20 44,724 16.12
Grand Total 76,282 18.85 74,034 17.47 80,096 21.19

20. SEED QUALITY MONITORING
• Seed Inspectors are notified for different areas.
• Only notified Seed Inspector have power to
exercise seed act enforcement.
• Only registered seed dealers, companies are
allowed to do seed business.
• Only approved varieties’ seed is eligible to be
sold.
• Samples drawn by Seed Inspector are tested in
the Lab of the area.
• Chalaans of fake/substandard seed are
submitted by the respective inspector to the
court.

21. INTERNATIONAL LIAISON
• Central Seed Testing Lab. of FSC&RD is member
lab of International Seed testing Association (ISTA).
• CSTL is in final phase of accreditation from ISTA.
Audit for accreditation by ISTA has been planned on
21-22 November, 2018.
• CSTL accreditation will boost the opportunity of
seed export and its testing would be accepted
world-wide.
• Accreditation of CSTL is also an obligation under
Seed (Amendment) Act 2015 in order to help in
establishing Accreditation Labs by private sector.

22. APSA

23. INITIATIVES FOR SEED SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT
NEW SEED LEGISLATIONS
23

24. 24
1. Act clearly delineates the role of private seed
sector (seed companies, dealers, processing units
and fruit plant nurseries)
2. It allows the private sector to produce basic seed
for its multiplication and certification
3. Permits easier integration of new plant varieties
into the system through Enlisting.
4. Act allows the private sector to establish
accredited seed testing laboratories
5. It authorizes the registration of Genetically
Modified Crop varieties (GMCs) subject to law
SEED AMENDMENT ACT 2015

25. SEED AMENDMENT ACT 2015
6. To protect the farmers from the cheating practices “
Misbranded Seed” clause has been included.
7. For the Evaluation of the candidate crop varieties a
Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC)has been
constituted.
8. To involve all seed stake holders at Federal and
Provincial level a “ Federal Seed Committee” has
been constituted.
9. The Act enhances the penalties for effective
deterrence against sale of sub-standard seed.

26. PROVISIONS IN SEED
(AMENDMENT) ACT, 2015
• Certification kept mandatory for only strategic crops i.e.
wheat, cotton, maize, rice, pulses (OPVs) and potato;
• All minor crops namely vegetables, oilseeds,
fodder/forages, ornamentals, and hybrids of strategic
crops (wheat, cotton, maize, rice) linked with Truth in
Labeling;
• For easier integration in seed cycle/system, minor crops
linked with enlisting kept as pre-condition for local
production or import
• Private sector seed companies and breeders allowed to
produce all kinds of seeds and multiply the same;
• Private sector companies allowed to establish their own
Accredited Seed Testing Laboratories to test and sell the
seed of enlisted varieties their own label

27. PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS
• Pakistan being a member of WTO (TRIPs) Agreement is
obliged to provide protection of plant varieties by Patents
or by an effective SUI-GENERIS SYSTEM or by any
combination thereof in compliance of the Article 27.3 (b)
of the TRIPs Agreement.
• Keeping in view the traditional background of our
farming community and socio-economic conditions,
opted Sui-Generis System for introducing Intellectual
Property Rights (IPR) for plant varieties.
27

28. SALIENT PROVISIONS OF THE
PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS ACT, 2016
1. Setting up Plant Breeders’ Rights Registry under
Ministry of National Food Security and Research
2. Providing protection to new plant varieties
3. Criterion for protection (DUS): Novelty (Newness) of the
Variety, Distinctiveness, Uniformity, Stability
4. Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department
to perform DUS through lab analysis and field testing
5. Registrar to be the Head of the PBR Registry
28

29. SALIENT PROVISIONS OF THE
PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS ACT, 2016
6. Plant Variety Protection Advisory Committee-
Representation of major stakeholders;
7. Farmers given the rights to save, sow, re-sow the
harvested seed;
8. The rights of benefit sharing of the local community
preserved;
9. Compulsory Licensing for acts against public interest;
10.Given incentives for the promotion of research and
development.
29
Plant Breeders Rights Act 2016 Promulgated
PBR Rules, 2018 approved by the Federal Cabinet;

30. ACTIONS AFTER PROMULGATION OF
PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS (PBR) ACT
2016
• The M/o National Food Security & Research sponsored
the Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Act 2016, which was
promulgated by the Parliament and notified on
December 8, 2016 .
• Plant Breeders’ Rules, 2018 notified dated 25-09-2018
to attract local as well as foreign investment in research,
Technology & development, in the agriculture sector.
• PLANT BREEDERS’ RIGHTS REGISTRY
NOTIFIED IN THE RULES OF BUSINESS, 1973
AS AN ATTACHED DEPARTMENT OF THE
MINISTRY OF NFS&R
30

31. 31
THANKS