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Agriculture sector: Experts put misconceptions about Seed Act 2014 to rest

Say suggested law will benefit farmers by facilitating trade and discouraging mafia.

Our Correspondent May 13, 2015

According to the Seed Act 1976, sale, advertise, hoarding, barter or otherwise supply, any seed of any variety or species is not allowed. PHOTO: APP

LAHORE: Experts have contradicted the claim that the Seed Act 2014 is an anti-farmer legislation, stating that it will prove helpful in ensuring quality seed for farmers by streamlining trade channels and discouraging seed mafia.

“The new act – based on amendments, deletion and additions of the 1976 seed act – does not allow commercial activity without meeting legal requirements, which will benefit the farmers so that the seed he purchases meets the standards.”

This was the crux of the discussion arranged by CropLife Pakistan to address different theories doing the rounds regarding the proposed amendments in the seed act.

Chief Executive CropLife Muhammad Afzal and Regulatory Affairs Lead Monsanto Pakistan Muhammad Asim spoke on the occasion.

According to the Seed Act 1976, sale, advertise, hoarding, barter or otherwise supply, any seed of any variety or species is not allowed. According to the speakers, there is no change in the new law in this regard.

The speakers said that the Seed (Amendment) Act 2014 does not talk about Intellectual Property Rights; for IP rights another law “Plant Variety Protection (PVP)” is being legislated.

In addition, IPR legislation, when enacted, will bring discipline to breeding institutes and will open doors for foreign companies to bring their products.

According to the speakers, the new act will bring a more open policy to the industry as it will not create barriers for smaller companies.

Additionally, the Seed Act 2014 is going to provide the rudimentary directions on how genetically modified seeds produced by international companies or local institutes will be registered.

The speakers assured that the Seed (Amendments) Act 2014 is working towards quality seed for farmers by streamlining trade channels.

“The law has imposed stringent regulations on seed standard and in case of non-compliance heavy fines will have to be paid,” they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.

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