The Indian government is planning to make testing of seeds compulsory for private seed makers like Monsanto, Bayer and Novartis in the country.

The compulsory testing process is part of the amendments to the Seed Bill that the government is considering.

The government has already introduced an amendment to the existing and controversial Seed Bill, 2004, on the question of registration and testing of seeds sold commercially by companies.

The Union Cabinet has vetted the amendments and the Law Ministry is examining every aspect of the Bill.

Law Ministry officials said the new provisions in the Bill are meant to address strong concerns in India over supply of spurious, sub-standard and misbranded seeds by the private sector.

"As per the new law, the private seed players will have to get their seeds tested compulsorily by accredited rating agencies prior to registering them," a senior official told Commodity Online.

The Bill bars the sale of any seed of any kind or variety unless it is registered by the Registration Committee set up for the purpose.

At present private companies that account for more than 50 per cent of the certified seeds, indulge in 'self-certification'. When the need law comes in, this practice would be wound up.

Last year a parliamentary panel on seeds had said that increasing private participation in seed production, distribution as well as certification and seed-testing is bound to bring in conflict of interest where the producer becomes the judge to award certificates to himself for minimum limit of germination, genetic and physical purity of the seeds he produces.

"The provision of self-certification will upset the seed market with a high risk to the consumers and farmers as well, because it will encourage the producers to introduce such seed varieties into the market which have not been tested by government-approved laboratories/agencies," the report had said.