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Ministry of Agriculture, vide Letter No.11-71/88-SD-1 dated September
16,1988, has brought out ‘New Policy on Seed Development’, with the aim of
providing to the farmer the best planting materials available in the world so as
to increase productivity and there by increasing farm income and export earnings.
The Policy covers the import of seeds of coarse cereals/pulses/oil seeds; vegetable
& flower seeds; bulbs/tubers of flowers; cuttings/ saplings/bud /wood etc.,
of flowers; and seeds & planting material of fruits.
The following are the guidelines for the import of above categories of
seed/planting material under the Seed Policy
3.1. Import of seeds of coarse cereals/pulses/oil
seeds
The import of seeds of coarse cereals/pulses/oil seeds is permitted for
a period not exceeding two years by companies that have technical/financial collaboration
with companies abroad, provided that the latter agree to supply parental lines/nucleus
or breeder seed technology to the Indian firm within two years of first shipment
of commercial consignment. The bulk import is permitted by the importer based on
the recommendation issued by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC)
after considering the trial/evaluation report of the varieties/hybrids, which he
intends to import. PPA or any other officer notified for the said purpose issues
the import permit based on the recommendation of DAC. However the recommendation
of DAC is not required for import of trial material. The quantities of the seed
permitted for import for initial trials by the importer, for ICAR multi-location
trials & agronomic trials or combined trials (vide Letter No. 11-71/88/S.D.I
dated 30th January 1989 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture) as per
Para 4.3.5 of Seed Policy are given in Schedule-XII and also the quantities of seeds
of parental lines required to be sampled and submitted in sealed condition for accession
to gene bank of National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi (vide
Letter No. 11-102/88-S.D.I dated 5th February 1991) as per Para 4.3.8
of Seed Policy. The imported consignment shall be subjected to detailed testing
for a period of 30-35 days and the same purpose the consignment will be held under
detention in AAI warehouse or any customs bonded warehouse at the cost of importer.
3.2. Import of vegetable & flower
seeds
The bulk import of vegetable & flower seeds is permitted under Open
General License (OGL) by the eligible importers viz.,
(i) Departments of Agriculture/Horticulture of the State Governments, State
Agricultural Universities and ICAR;
(ii) Seed producing Indian companies/firms after registration with National
Seeds Corporation;
(iii) National Seeds corporation, State Seeds Corporations;
(iv) Food processing industrial units;
(v) Growers of vegetables and flowers registered with Director of Horticulture/Agriculture
of the State Government. The imported seed is subject to detailed seed testing for
a period of 30-35 days on arrival at the port of entry. However, permit issued by
PPA or any other competent officer notified for this purpose, is required for import
of vegetable seeds but not flower seeds.
3.3. Import of bulbs &tubers of flowers
The bulk import of bulbs & tubers of flowers and ornamentals is allowed
under OGL by eligible importers as stated above. The imported consignments shall
be subjected to grow-out test for a period of 35-40 days on arrival at the port
of entry and for the same purpose the consignment will be held under detention in
cold storage under customs bond or the imported bulbs & tubers may be subjected
to post-entry quarantine instead of grow-out test at the specific request of the
importer (vide Ministry of Agriculture Letter No. 8-55/93-PP.I, dated 10th
January 1998).The bulbs/tubers are required to be sown in individual poly bags and
are subjected to joint inspection by DIA and the officer of concerned PQ station
during PEQ period specified at the time of issue of permit.
3.4. Import of cuttings/saplings/bud wood etc., of flowers
The cuttings/saplings/bud wood etc., of flowers is permitted
for import under OGL. However, a permit issued by PPA or any other competent officer
notified for this purpose, is required. The importer is required to establish PEQ
facilities prior to import, which are to be approved by the Designated Inspection
Authorities (DIAs) as per the guidelines issued by PPA. The imported consignments
on arrival at the port of entry shall be subject to quarantine inspection and cleared
within 24-72 hrs with a condition for growing under post-entry quarantine for a
period not exceeding 45 days in an approved PEQ facility under the supervision of
DIA.
3.5. Import of seeds/planting material
of fruits
The seeds/planting material of fruit plant species are selectively permitted for
import by DAC on case-to-case basis on the recommendation of Director of Horticulture/Agriculture
of the state and subject to quarantine regulations as may be laid down by PPA. However,
permit issued by PPA or any other competent officer notified for this purpose, is
required for the import of the same.
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