New Delhi. The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to extend the period of validity of the continuation of Cotton Seed as an essential commodity beyond the initial period of six months for a further period of six months w.e.f. 22.6.2010.

With the extension of the validity period, the Government would continue to 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. It is necessary to regulate the aspects of production, distribution and quality in the interest of the farming community and to prevent seed producers from resorting to unregulated trade practices.

As and when the Seed Bill is passed by the Parliament, rules are framed under the new Act and the new Act is brought fully into force, Cotton seeds would be regulated under this new regulation. Thereafter the notification of cotton seeds under the EC Act would be withdrawn.