Truthful Labelled Seeds

Description

Context

The Centre asked the seed industry to bring in transparency in certification of truthful labelled seeds.

About

It is the category of seed produced by cultivators, private seed companies and is sold under truthful labels.
This type of seeds does not come under the purview of the Department of Seed Certification.
Rather, field standard and seed standard should be maintained as per seed act and certified seed stage.
Under the seed act, the seed producer and seed seller are responsible for the seed.
Truthful labelling is compulsory for notified kind of varieties and it is tested for physical purity and germination.
Notified Variety: After a variety has been released for a zone by the Central Sub-Committee, theDirector, HYV, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, GOI notifies the concerned authorities of the states within that zone for seed multiplication and distribution of variety. This is known as notification of variety.

Difference between certified seed and truthful labeled seed

Certified seed	Truthful labelled seed
Certification is voluntary. Quality guaranteed by certification agency.	Truthful labelling is compulsory for notified kind of varieties. Quality guaranteed by producing agency
Applicable to notified kinds only	Applicable to both notified and released varieties
It should satisfy both minimum field and seed standards	Tested for physical purity and germination
Seed certification officer, seed inspectors can take samples for inspection	Seed inspectors alone can take samples for checking the seed quality.