New draft Seeds Bill, 2025

New draft Seeds Bill, 2025

Why in news ? The Union government has released a new draft Seeds Bill, 2025 for public comments after earlier attempts to pass similar Bills in 2004 (UPA) and 2019 (NDA) failed due to farmer opposition.

The Agriculture Ministry says the new draft is updated to match current agricultural and regulatory needs, and aims to replace:

• Seeds Act, 1966
• Seeds (Control) Order, 1983

The draft is open to public comments until December 11.

Key Issues and Provisions in the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025:

Mandatory Registration for Seed Dealers:

• Every seed dealer must obtain a registration certificate from the State government to sell, import, export, or supply seeds.

Quality Regulation:

Seeds must meet the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards, including:

• Germination rates
• Genetic purity
• Physical purity
• Traits
• Seed health

This is meant to ensure farmers get high-quality seeds.

Liberalisation of Seed Imports:

• The Bill seeks to make it easier to import global seed varieties, increasing access to new technologies and crop types.

Protection for Farmers:

The government says the Bill aims to:

• Ensure affordable seed prices
• Protect farmers from losses due to poor-quality seeds
• Improve availability of tested, certified seeds

Decriminalisation of Minor Offences:

• To promote Ease of Doing Business, minor violations will be decriminalised, reducing compliance burdens for seed companies.
• Serious offences will still have penalties.

Reactions from Stakeholders

Farmer organisations

• They are cautious and remind that earlier Bills were withdrawn due to farmer resistance.
• BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) said the Bill appears to favour seed companies and they will study it further.

Seed industry

• The industry has welcomed the draft as a timely step toward modernising India’s seed laws.
• Overall Key Concerns & Issues Likely to Emerge
• These are the debates expected around the Bill:

Farmer Concerns:

• Fears that seed companies may gain more control
• Questions about affordability of seeds
• Impact on traditional and farmer-saved seeds
• Whether penalties burden farmers

Industry Concerns:

• Need for easier regulations and clearer enforcement
• Harmonisation with global seed standards

Policy-Level Questions

• How liberalised seed imports may affect domestic seed diversity
• Balancing regulation with innovation
• Ensuring effective quality checks

About Seeds Act, 1966 :

The Seeds Act, 1966 is India’s first major law to regulate the quality of seeds sold in the country.
Its main objectives:

• Ensure minimum quality standards for seeds (germination, purity, etc.)
• Provide for notification of certain seed varieties by the government
• Establish Seed Certification Agencies
• Regulate truthful labeling so that farmers know what they are buying
• Set up Seed Testing Laboratories

Purpose:
To protect farmers from poor-quality seeds and promote the use of certified seeds.

About Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 :

Issued under the Essential Commodities Act, this order aimed to control the seed trade and ensure availability.

Key features:

• Mandatory licensing for all seed dealers
• Powers to inspect, sample, and seize substandard seeds
• Regulation of seed price, supply, and distribution

Appointment of Seed Inspectors and Seed Analysts