Draft Seeds Bill 2025: Registration, Traceability and Penalties
Why in the news
A draft law would overhaul seed regulation, stressing quality, digital traceability and farmer protection.
Key facts
- Registration: compulsory after VCU trials; can be suspended or revoked; older varieties get 3 years provisional registration.
- Traceability: labelling, QR codes and the central SATHI portal.
- Players: producers, dealers and nurseries register with State Governments; multi-state firms can be “deemed registered”.
- Testing: Seed Certification Agencies and Central and State Seed Testing Laboratories.
- Imports: must meet quarantine and Indian minimum standards.
- Prices: Centre may fix them during scarcity or profiteering.
| Offence | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Trivial | Warnings, small fines |
| Minor | Up to ₹2 lakh |
| Major | Up to ₹30 lakh, registration cancelled, jail in extreme cases |
Why needed
- Old laws cannot handle hybrids, GM traits, private research and global trade.
- Protect farmers from spurious, misbranded and sub-standard seeds.
Farmers
Farmers are exempt from penalties for selling their own farm-saved seeds.
Exam angle
- Replaces: Seeds Act, 1966; the 2004 Seeds Bill never materialised.
- Terms: VCU, SATHI, deemed registration.