|
Amended Seed Act summary to be moved to cabinet soon
 ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) is
expected to shortly move a summary to the federal cabinet on
the proposed amendments in the Seed Act 1976 as the
provinces have authorised the federal government to bring in
certain changes in the existing law, sources told Business
Recorder on Tuesday.
The Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department
has finalised the changes and it has already sent a summary
to the Minfal, which will send a detailed summary to the
cabinet for final approval, the sources said. According to
them, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights has
initially vetted the proposed changes, which are aimed at
ending monopoly of public sector companies in seed
marketing.
However, it is feared that if the present assemblies were
dissolved for holding fresh elections, the process could
further delay, as the new assemblies would take up the
proposed amendments. A similar case is the Plant Breeder
Right Act, in which the changes have been approved by the
cabinet, but these are yet to be placed before the
Parliament whose approval is must for the promulgation of a
new law, the sources said.
The sources said that there was a need to revolutionise the
seed sector, where the credible companies in private sector
could invest in introducing new seed varieties with the
potential to increase productivity. The foremost thing,
which is addressed by the proposed amendments, is the
registration of companies at pre-basic seed stage and the
company, which originates new seed would have a greater say
in the marketing of their varieties.
The amendments would also facilitate establishment of the
accredited seed laboratories in private sector, the sources
added. They were of the view that due to the monopoly of
public sector companies, the private sector does not come
forward to establish such laboratories for developing new
seed varieties, according to the sources.
The proposed amendments also envisage the formation of a
committee, which would have the authority to register seed
companies in private sector. The registration of these
companies would be renewed every year after evaluation of
their performances, the sources added.
The Seed Act, 1976 does not have a proper mechanism to
register seed importers and the imported seed varieties. All
these shortcomings have been addressed to, the sources
added.
The new law will shape the future development of seed supply
system in Pakistan. They will help the private sector in
developing domestic seed industry and delimit the space for
exercising farmers' seed rights, the sources added.
.
Courtesy: Business Recorder
|
Pakissan.com;
|
