India is advancing a new Seeds Bill to bolster its seed industry's regulation and shield farmers from substandard and counterfeit products, with ongoing consultations with agricultural communities to refine the legislation before its finalization. This proposed act is designed to supersede older laws, acknowledging the significant evolution in seed technology, the expanded role of the private sector, and the complexities of international trade. A cornerstone of the new bill involves mandatory registration for seed varieties, manufacturers, and distributors, coupled with a traceability system using QR codes on seed packaging. It also stipulates enhanced penalties for non-compliance, including considerable fines and potential jail time for serious infringements, while ensuring farmers can continue their traditional practices of saving and sharing their own seeds, barring commercial resale under registered brands.

India is advancing a new Seeds Bill to bolster its seed industry's regulation and shield farmers from substandard and counterfeit products, with ongoing consultations with agricultural communities to refine the legislation before its finalization. This proposed act is designed to supersede older laws, acknowledging the significant evolution in seed technology, the expanded role of the private sector, and the complexities of international trade. A cornerstone of the new bill involves mandatory registration for seed varieties, manufacturers, and distributors, coupled with a traceability system using QR codes on seed packaging. It also stipulates enhanced penalties for non-compliance, including considerable fines and potential jail time for serious infringements, while ensuring farmers can continue their traditional practices of saving and sharing their own seeds, barring commercial resale under registered brands.

India is advancing a new Seeds Bill to bolster its seed industry's regulation and shield farmers from substandard and counterfeit products, with ongoing consultations with agricultural communities to refine the legislation before its finalization. This proposed act is designed to supersede older laws, acknowledging the significant evolution in seed technology, the expanded role of the private sector, and the complexities of international trade. A cornerstone of the new bill involves mandatory registration for seed varieties, manufacturers, and distributors, coupled with a traceability system using QR codes on seed packaging. It also stipulates enhanced penalties for non-compliance, including considerable fines and potential jail time for serious infringements, while ensuring farmers can continue their traditional practices of saving and sharing their own seeds, barring commercial resale under registered brands.

The Centre is considering a new Seeds Bill to strengthen regulation of the seed industry and protect farmers from fake and poor-quality seeds. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday that consultations with farmers would continue before the legislation is finalised.

The government had sought suggestions on the draft in November-December 2025 and received about 18,000 responses from farmers and farmer organisations, Chouhan said after meeting representatives of about 20 farmer organisations.

He said the existing Seeds Act and Pesticides Act were made in 1966 and that conditions had changed considerably since then. “There is a need for a new Seeds Act,” he said, citing the sale of substandard seeds and pesticides as a major problem.

What the new Bill proposes

The Bill is intended to replace the Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983. The government says the existing framework is outdated and does not adequately address changes in seed technology, private sector participation and international trade.

A key proposal is compulsory registration of seed varieties, producers and dealers, with exceptions for traditional farmers’ varieties. Seed packets would carry QR codes to provide end-to-end traceability.

The Bill proposes much higher penalties for violations, including fines of up to ₹30 lakh and imprisonment for serious offences. Seed inspectors would get search and seizure powers. Offences would be classified as trivial, minor or major, with the government proposing to decriminalise minor violations.

The draft also proposes a 27-member Central Seed Committee and 15-member State Seed Committees in every state.

It provides for a Central Accreditation System under which seed companies accredited by the Centre could operate across states. The government says this would simplify the regulatory process and encourage innovation and investment.

The Bill also retains farmers’ rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds, provided they are not sold under a registered brand name.

What farmers and critics are saying

Farmer organisations, including the All India Kisan Sabha, have demanded changes or withdrawal of the draft. Their main concern is that it could increase the influence of large domestic and multinational seed companies.

Critics have questioned the Central Accreditation System, arguing that it could reduce state-level scrutiny and weaken the powers of states to regulate the seed market, including prices and royalties. They have also pointed to the proposed reduction in state representation on the Central Seed Committee.

Another major concern is compensation when branded seeds fail. Farmer groups argue that higher fines paid to the government do not compensate farmers for crop losses. They want a clear, time-bound mechanism for compensation, along with stronger liability for seed companies and action against companies selling spurious seeds.

Some scientists and farmer groups have also questioned whether the proposed certification system is suitable for traditional and farmer-developed varieties, which may have greater genetic diversity. They have sought stronger protection for indigenous varieties and support for community seed banks.

Critics have further raised concerns about imported seeds and foreign certification, saying India needs to ensure that seeds are properly tested for its varied agricultural conditions.

Chouhan: No deadline yet

Chouhan has rejected concerns that the proposed law will interfere with farmers’ traditional seed practices. He has said farmers will remain free to use their own seeds and share or lend them to other farmers.

He said the government was consulting farmers precisely because the legislation needed to be examined carefully. “Whatever step is taken will have to be taken with careful thought and depth,” he said.

The minister said there was no deadline yet for finalising the Bill. More suggestions from farmers and farmer organisations would be considered before the final draft is prepared.

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