Re-inclusion of Cotton Seed as Essential Commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
The Cabinet today gave its approval for re-inclusion of Cotton Seed as an essential commodity for a period of six months under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 by amending the Schedule to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 or till the Seed Bill is passed by the Parliament, whichever is earlier.
After Cotton Seed is re-included as an essential commodity under the EC Act, the Government would be empowered to regulate production, quality, distribution etc. of Cotton Seed and to curb the sale and spread of spurious Cotton Seed, quality, production, distribution, etc. aspects of cotton seed will be subject to regulation under Seed Control Order 1983 thereby ensuring quality of seed particularly private hybrids of cotton/Bt.Cotton Seeds increasing the productivity and production.
Cotton seed was deleted from the list of essential commodities when the ECA was amended in 2007.
As and when the Seeds Bill is passed by Parliament, Cotton seeds would be regulated under this new regulation. Thereafter the notification of cotton seeds under the EC Act would be withdrawn.
