Draft Seeds Bill, 2025

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released a draft of the new Seeds Bill, 2025, which introduces significant changes to the existing Seeds Act of 1966. This new legislation is aimed at regulating seed quality more stringently.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Mandatory Registration:
  • All seed varieties, except those for export or classified as farmers’ variety, must be registered before being sold for sowing or planting.
  • Existing varieties notified under section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966, will be automatically registered under the new law.
• Penalties and Offences:
  • Offences are categorized into trivial, minor, and major, with stringent penalties for major offences.
  • Major offences include the sale of spurious or non-registered seeds and unregistered business operations.
  • Penalties for major offences can be up to Rs 30 lakh and imprisonment for up to three years.

Objective of the Bill

The Bill intends to regulate seed quality for sale and import, ensuring the production and supply of quality seeds. It also aims to facilitate the agricultural sector by establishing a more robust legal framework.

Public Consultation

The draft is open for public comments until December 11, inviting stakeholders to provide their input on the proposed regulations.

Historical Context

The government had previously introduced Seeds Bills in 2004 and 2019, but they were not enacted into law.