Islamadad, Pakistan
October 30, 2014

The bill amending Pakistan’s 1976 Seed Act has cleared the first step of the legislative process. If approved, the bill will open Pakistan’s seed industry to private sector participation and authorize the registration of biotech seeds.

Pakistan’s Seed Bill Approved by Parliamentary Committee

Pakistan’s parliamentary Committee on National Food Security and Research recently voted to approve Pakistan’s Seed Act Amendment Bill. The Bill will next be presented to the National Assembly for approval. If the Bill clears the National Assembly, it will undergo additional legislative steps before final approval. If implemented, the Bill will amend The Seed Act of 1976 which has been the basis for the regulation of Pakistan’s seed industry for nearly 40 years. Efforts to amend the Act and incorporate provisions recognizing the need to modernize the seed industry began 2007. However, a series of legislative delays prevented final approval of the proposed amendments.
Key provisions include:

• Allowing the private sector to participate in the seed industry by registering seed companies that produce and market seeds. 
• Enhancing penalties to curb the sale of sub-standard seed in the market. 
• Establish accredited seed testing laboratories in private sector. 
• Authorize the registration of biotech seeds subject to certain provisions of the Act.

For more information, please contact the Office of Agricultural Affairs in Islamabad at agislamabad@fas.usda.gov.

Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov/

Published: October 31, 2014