New legislation, the Seeds Bill 2025, is set to replace outdated laws, aiming to provide farmers with quality seeds affordably and combat spurious products. The bill proposes stricter penalties for major offenses like selling fake seeds, while decriminalizing minor violations to ease business. It also seeks to boost innovation through liberalized imports and protect farmer rights. Representative image (AI-generated) NEW DELHI: Seeking to ensure farmers’ access to high-quality seeds at affordable rates and curb the sale of spurious and poor-quality seeds, the Centre has proposed a new legislation and circulated a draft bill to this effect to replace the existing laws.The proposed legislation, Seeds Bill, 2025, is expected to be introduced in the Parliament towards the end of the upcoming winter session in Dec. It may, however, be passed only during the Budget session early next year.The draft Bill also seeks to regulate the quality of seeds and planting materials available in the market, protect farmers from losses, liberalise seed imports to promote innovation and access to global varieties, and safeguard the rights of farmers, ensuring transparency and accountability in seed supply chains.The agriculture ministry, meanwhile, on Thursday released the draft Bill as part of the pre-legislative consultation process, asking stakeholders’ to come out with their comments and suggestions by Dec 11. The Bill will be finalised after examining those suggestions. Once passed in the Parliament, it’ll replace the existing Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.The Bill provides for detailed dos and don’ts for seed production, registration of dealers/distributors for selling seeds, seed processing units, seed certification agency, plant nurseries, and establishment of central/state seed testing laboratories, and specifies actions to be taken against those who violate it.On the enforcement side, the draft Bill, however, also proposes to decriminalise minor offences in order to reduce compliance burden in sync with the government’s efforts to promote ease of doing business, while maintaining the strong provisions to penalise serious violations effectively.The major offences such as supply of any spurious seeds and non-registered seeds, and business of selling seeds without registration will continue to attract strict penalties, ranging from Rs 10-30 lakh, and imprisonment up to three years.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPune Road Accident: At Least 6 Dead, Several Injured After Truck Rams Multiple Vehicles’Message to world’: Amit Shah vows strictest punishment for Delhi Terror Attack culpritsAfghanistan FM Muttaqi Slams Pakistan’s ‘Illogical’ Demands After Talks Collapse In TurkeyMultiple IEDs, 32 Vehicles: Agencies Uncover Plan For Serial Car Explosions In Delhi Blast Probe30,000 Troops, 25 Warships, Fighter Jets: India Concludes Tri-Service Drill Trishul | Op Sindoor 2.0Muhammad Yunus Sets February 2026 Election Date For Bangladesh Along With Referendum On July CharterProject Cheetah Boost: President Murmu, Duma Boko Attend Handover in GaboroneDramatic Drone Chase Catches Attacker Who Fled Amravati Wedding After Stabbing Groom With KnifeIndian Air Force Opens Nyoma Airbase In Ladakh, A Strategic Game-Changer Along The China FrontierS Jaishankar Meets Anita Anand Amid Khalistan Protests at G7 As India and Canada Aim To Rebuild Ties123Photostories8 ways to add carrot to kids’ school tiffin8 stunning red snakes around the world that are nature’s gemsPriyanka Chopra just recreated a classic ‘Mandakini’ moment: 5 times she stole the spotlight with her sareesWisdom beyond centuries: 5 Chanakya quotes students can live byFrom neem leaves to moringa: 5 food habits to learn from PM Narendra ModiFrom ‘Pakeezah’, ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ to ‘Jab We Met’: How trains became Bollywood’s most romantic setting7 daily habits that can help you live happierUnplug, create and connect: 7 parenting ideas to celebrate Children’s Day 2025 indoors5 countries where wearing camouflage is illegal10 Indian baby names that mean hope and joy123Hot PicksBihar Election CandidatesBihar Election ConstituenciesBihar Election 2025Gold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingEpstein FilesAndy ReidJosh Allen WifeCountries Education SystemPaul Reed Net WorthBGMI 4.1 UpdateLaMelo BallKlay Thompson GirlfriendGiannis AntetokounmpoMichael Duarte Cause of Death
NEW DELHI: Seeking to ensure farmers’ access to high-quality seeds at affordable rates and curb the sale of spurious and poor-quality seeds, the Centre has proposed a new legislation and circulated a draft bill to this effect to replace the existing laws.The proposed legislation, Seeds Bill, 2025, is expected to be introduced in the Parliament towards the end of the upcoming winter session in Dec. It may, however, be passed only during the Budget session early next year.The draft Bill also seeks to regulate the quality of seeds and planting materials available in the market, protect farmers from losses, liberalise seed imports to promote innovation and access to global varieties, and safeguard the rights of farmers, ensuring transparency and accountability in seed supply chains.The agriculture ministry, meanwhile, on Thursday released the draft Bill as part of the pre-legislative consultation process, asking stakeholders’ to come out with their comments and suggestions by Dec 11. The Bill will be finalised after examining those suggestions. Once passed in the Parliament, it’ll replace the existing Seeds Act, 1966 and the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.The Bill provides for detailed dos and don’ts for seed production, registration of dealers/distributors for selling seeds, seed processing units, seed certification agency, plant nurseries, and establishment of central/state seed testing laboratories, and specifies actions to be taken against those who violate it.On the enforcement side, the draft Bill, however, also proposes to decriminalise minor offences in order to reduce compliance burden in sync with the government’s efforts to promote ease of doing business, while maintaining the strong provisions to penalise serious violations effectively.The major offences such as supply of any spurious seeds and non-registered seeds, and business of selling seeds without registration will continue to attract strict penalties, ranging from Rs 10-30 lakh, and imprisonment up to three years.
