THE SEED ACT, 1966

THE SEED ACT, 1966 (Act No. 54 of 1966)

The Act received the assent of the President on 29th Dec., 66 and was published in issue No.66 of part II Sec. 1- extraordinary Gazette of India dated 30.12.66 and supplemented with Seeds Rules 1968 on 29.08.68. The total draft of seeds Act 1966 and seeds Rules 1968 were brought into effect on 02.10.1969.

OBJECTIVE AND REASONS

In the interest of increased Agricultural production in the country, it is considered to regulate the quality of certain seeds, such as seeds of food crops, cotton, jute etc., to be sold for purpose of Agriculture (including horticulture).

METHOD TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE

1. Constitution of central seed committee consisting of representative of the central government and the state governments, the National Seeds Corporation and other interests, to advise the governments on all matters arising out of the proposed legislation.

2. Fixing minimum standards for Germination, Physical purity, varietal purity and maximum standard for moisture and Other Distinguishable Variety (ODV) and other quality factors.

3. Testing seeds for quality factors at the seed testing laboratories to be established by the central government and state governments.

4. Creation of seed inspection and certification service in each state and grant of license’s and certificates to dealers in seeds.

5. Compulsory labeling of seed container to indicate the quality of seeds offered for sales.

6. Restricting the export, import and interstate movement of non-descriptive seed.

7. In order to eliminate undue hardship, provision has been made in the draft of the Act, for example, the sale of seed by:

• Plant Breeder
• Certain classes of producers
• Any other person for purpose other than for the purpose of sowing or planting.

THE DRAFT OF SEEDS ACT, 1966 AND SEEDS RULES, 1968

The principle draft of Seeds Act 1966 contains 25 sections which are broadly classified into three groups as follows:

1. General Sections.

2. Sanctioning legislation.

3. Regulating legislation.

1. General section

General section includes the information on the following:

• Short title extent and commencement &
• Definitions 

2. 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 for foreign countries, Appellate authorities etc.

3. 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

a. Power to notify the kind / variety

b. Labelling provisions

c. Seed testing

d. Seed analyst

e. Seed inspectors

f. Penalty

g. General provisions

II. Seed Certification

III. Restriction of Import and Export of Seeds

The important provisions of the Act are :

1. To establish Central Seed Committee to advise Central Government on all matters of Seeds.
2. To establish Seed Testing Laboratories at the State level by all the States
3. To establish Central Seed testing laboratories.
4. To declare crops and recommended varieties of which seed production is to be undertaken on commercial scale.
5. To decide minimum standards of seeds in respect of germination percentage and physical purity or cleanliness ( free from foreign bodies)
6. To establish seed certification agencies for the States.
7. To grant permission by seeds certification agency to sell seeds certified by it.
8. To frame rules for the sale of certified seeds of declared crops and their varieties.
9. To appoint seed analysts and crop inspectors to check quality in the field.
10. To frame the rules to be adopted by seed inspectors and seed analysis
11. To decide limits for import and export of seeds.
12. To decide about giving recognition to seed certification agencies in foreign countries .
13. To take action against those who violate the provisions of this act and interfere in work of seed inspectors.
14. To punish any agency or company engaged in trading of seeds and found guilty.
15. There are four types of seeds.

• Breeder's Seeds
• Foundation Seed
• Registered seed
• Certified seed

Legislative Frameworks for Seeds in India:

Historically, the seed industry in India has been governed by several legislative & policy frameworks such as Seed Act (1966), Seed Rules (1968), Seed (Control) Order (1983), New Policy on Seed Development (1988), Plants, Fruits & Seeds (Regulation of Import into India) Order (1989), Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Act (2001), and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 including Seeds (1955), National Seed Policy (2002), and Seed Bill (2004).

All of these legislations were passed to take care of seeds right from the production level to marking, labeling, and marketing levels so as to maintain the quality standards as prescribed by the Central Seed Committee (formed under the Seed Act, 1966).

These laws make quality seeds and planting material available to a common farmer and provide him a mechanism to approach concerned authority for justice.

The Seed Bill (2004) was proposed to replace the Seed Act (1966), however, owing to several shortcomings it was not passed. The 2019 draft version tries to overcome the drawbacks of the 2004 Bill.