Seed Industry Development Act (Republic
Act No. 7308 of 1992)
History
Republic Act 7308, otherwise known as the
Seed Industry Development Act was enforced in
1992. The Bureau of Plant Industry then had been
in the forefront before a bill relevant to Seed
industry was enacted and became a law. The
Philippine Seed Board (PSB), more popularly
known as PSB was the office responsible in the
approval and registration of crop varieties. It is
the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry that
directly supervises the activities of PSB. Until
finally, through RA 7308, the National Seed
Industry Council was created replacing PSB.
Definition of Terms
Seed - According to Sec 3 of RA 7308: “Seed
shall mean plant material used for the production
of food, forage, fibers, industrial crops, oil,
flowers, grasses, herbs and aquatic plants,
including but not limited to meristem, and clonal
propagules such as tubers, corns, and micro-
propagated plantlets;”
 It means only seeds of assured quality
can be expected to respond to fertilizer
and other inputs in expected manner.
 Among the inputs used by farmers seed
in the cheapest input. It is basic inputs
and forms small part of the total cost of
cultivation. The good seed also increase
the efficiency of the factor of crop
production.
Germination Test - The emergence and
development from the seed embryo of those
essential structures which, for the kind of seed
tested indicate its ability to develop into a
normal plant under favorable, conditions in soil.
Republic Act 7308 Objectives:
 Conserve, preserve and develop the plant
genetic resources of the nation;
 Encourage and hasten the organization of
all sectors engaged in the industry,
MACATANGAY, Camille Agatha N.
integrate all their activities and provide
assistance to them;
 Consider the seed industry as a preferred
area of investment;
 Encourage the private sector to engage in
seed research and development and in
mass production and distribution of good
quality seeds; and
 Provide the local industry protection
against unfair competition from imported
seeds.
National Seed Industry Council (Council)
Council members include representatives from
Government, Agriculture University, research
institutes, farmers' organizations and the seed
industry.
The Council's functions include formulating
policies that will stimulate plant breeding
activities for the development of the genetic
resources of the country and promoting
infrastructure and support services in the
development of the seed industry.
Duties, Powers and Functions
 According to Sec 5 of RA 7308: “The
Council shall have the following duties,
powers and functions:
 To formulate policies that will stimulate
plant breeding activities for the
development of the genetic resources of
the country in accordance with the
provisions of this Act;
 To encourage persons, associations,
cooperatives and corporations engaged in
genetic resources conservation, varietal
development, production and processing,
quality control, storage, marketing and
distribution of seeds to adopt systems and
practices which improve the quality of
seeds for distribution to farmers;
 To promote the establishment of
infrastructures and other support services
in priority areas geared toward the
development of the seed industry;
 To formulate a comprehensive medium
and long-term national seed industry
 development program in order to achieve
self-sufficiency in the supply of high
quality seeds;
 To grant awards, subsidies and other
forms of assistance to seed or plant
breeders who develop or are developing
outstanding varieties or cultivars;
 To formulate policies that will stimulate
plant breeding activities; and
 To promulgate rules and regulations to
implement the provisions of this Act.”
National Seed Quality Control Services
It shall have control and supervision over field
inspection and control services, and seed testing
laboratories which shall be established by the
Bureau of Plant Industry in various parts of the
country as are necessary to ensure the attainment
of the purposes of this Act.
Philippines’ Industry, Growth, Trends, and
Forecasts
Philippine Industry Seed Sector
Due to lack of effective seed delivery system and
non-functional national variety release
committee, the country is not self-sufficient in
rice production, owing to which it imports rice
from neighboring countries, making it one of the
world's biggest rice importers.
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has been fulfilling
the needs of Philippines seed industry by
production, acquisition, and distribution of
quality seeds and by proper seed certification.
BPI together with the Philippines Seed Industry
Association (PSIA) assures a regulatory
mechanism for accreditation and registration of
quality and superior crop varieties.
National Seed Industry Committee (NSIC)
Review requirements for accreditation of
registration with consideration to informal seed
supply system, as informal seed sector dominates
the market.
MACATANGAY, Camille Agatha N.
Current Status of Seed Industry
Seed Sector Growth
Vegetable Sector - With rapid developments in
the Seed industry of Philippines, the government
is promoting vegetable seed sector. The vegetable
sector is dominated by companies headquartered
in other countries, such as Pioneer Hi-Bred
Philippines, East West Seed, Bioseed Research
Philippines.
Forecasts and Future plans
Department of Agriculture (DA) targets to
improve the country’s seed sector as it focuses on
the commercialization of rice seed production
next year (2018)
DA has also targeted to expand hybrid rice area
up to 700,000 hectares next year and as much as
one million by 2020 from the current 400,000
hectares.
Sanctions
Any person, firm, or association who shall violate
any provision of this Act or the implementing
rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to
this Act, shall, upon conviction, be punished with
a fine of not more than Ten Thousand pesos (P
10,000.00) or imprisonment of not more than five
(5) years, or both, in the discretion of the court:
Provided, That in the case of a firm or association,
the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed
upon the officer(s) who knowingly participated,
abetted or consented to the commission of such
punishable acts.