New Seed Bill 2004 – Issues and Analysis

This paper focuses on the new Indian Seeds Bill 2004 which aims to regulate the seed market and ensure seeds of quality. It discusses the proposed changes in this new bill, i.e., making the registration of cultivars obligatory, creating a National Register of seeds, regulating the import and export of seeds, accommodating new regulations on genetically modified crops, and improving market conditions for private seed companies, as well as its effects on both farmers and seed producers. Various issues related to the bill has been thoroughly discussed, discrepancies sorted out and changes suggested. In addition, the history of Indian seed regulation and seed laws in selected Asian countries are enumerated.