Lok Sabha Question No. 1396 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Substandard Seeds and Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Manna Lal Rawat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1396

TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## SUBSTANDARD SEEDS AND PESTICIDES

1396.  DR. MANNA LAL RAWAT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a)   the details of regulatory steps being taken by the Government to prevent losses to farmers due to substandard or inferior quality seeds and pesticides; (b)    the  legal  action  taken  so  far  against  the  manufacturing,  marketing  or  sale  of substandard seeds or pesticides and whether any amendment or new policy is proposed to make these regulations more robust and effective; (c)  whether the Government has launched any special programme in collaboration with the State Governments for upgrading or expanding the laboratories for testing qualities of seeds and pesticides; and

(d)  if so, the latest data in this regard and details of steps taken on the said issue?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a): In order to ensure availability of quality seeds and pesticides for preventing losses to  the  farmers,  the  various  provisions  are  available  in  the  Seeds  Act,  1966,  the  Seeds Rules,  1968,  the  Seeds  (Control)  Order,  1983,  the  Insecticide  Act,  1968,  and  the Insecticides  Rules,1971  etc.  The  State  Governments/UTs  appoints  the  Quality  Control Inspectors for ensuring quality of seeds and pesticides in their states. These Inspectors are empowered to draw the samples from manufacturers/retailers etc, send to laboratory for testing quality. In case any sample of seeds and pesticides are found to be sub-standard, actions are taken as per the relevant provisions of Acts and Rules with respect to seeds, and pesticides (viz. cancelation of dealer license, seize the stock, issue of warning, issue 'Stop Sale' Order and file the case in the Court etc.).

Government  of  India  also  issue  advisories  to  all  the  States/UTs,  to  ensure implementation of existing legal framework strictly to step up the vigil on the manufacturer premises and storage, sale  point of  dealers/retailers  etc.  to  check  the  sale  of  spurious seeds, and pesticides.

Government  of  India  has  launched  Seed  Authentication,  Traceability  &  Holistic Inventory (SATHI) portal for ensuring traceability and complete seed chain from Nucleus seeds  to  Certified  Seeds  for  effective  monitoring  and  transparency  in  whole  seed production and distribution system.

To strengthen the regulatory system a series of State Seed Certification Agencies (SSCAs) and Seed Testing Laboratories (STLs) have been set up. There are 25 SSCAs for certification of seeds and 178 notified STLs for testing of seeds at present working in the  country.  Similarly,  for  testing  of  pesticides  70  State  Pesticide  Testing  Laboratories (SPTLs) and 2 Regional Pesticide Testing Laboratories (RPTLs) at Kanpur and Chandigarh have been established in the country.

(b): During the year 2024-25 and current year total 3,94,150 seed samples drawn and 16,146 samples found sub-standard, 9,598 'Stop Sale' Order issued,181 cases of forfeiture, 1,968 cases filled in the Court, 249 cases decided by Court of Law and 1,675 no. of cases sub-judice.

Similarly, a total 85,718 pesticides samples have been analysed and 2,362 samples found  misbranded.  822  prosecution  cases  were  filed  against  firms  involved  in  the manufacture, sale, or illegal import of substandard or low-quality pesticides, and 145 cases resulted in conviction by the Hon'ble Court during the year 2024-25.

A draft Seeds Bill, 2025 has been placed for public/stakeholders' consultation for bringing a new Seeds Act to make the provisions more robust and effective.

(c) & (d): The details of steps being taken by the Government of India and States/UTs. for upgrading the quality testing laboratories are as under:

- a)  Government  of  India  provides  the  financial  assistance  to  the  States/UTs.  and implementing agencies for Strengthening of Quality Control Arrangement viz.  for setting  up  of  new  testing  laboratory,  upgrading  existing  testing  laboratory,  Seed Health  laboratory,  DNA  Finger  Printing  laboratory  etc.  under  the  National  Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) and Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) etc.
- b)  Government of India also provides the financial assistance for conducting National trainings /Workshops and capacity-building programmes for the various stakeholders.
- c)  Encouraging the States/UTs. and implementing agencies etc. for obtaining National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation of  testing  laboratories  and  also  International  Seed  Testing  Association  (ISTA) accreditation for STLs etc. to improve the quality of testing etc.

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