Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7308)
The short title of Republic Act No. 7308 is the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992.
The main policy is to promote and accelerate the development of the seed industry in the Philippines, including conserving plant genetic resources, encouraging organization and assistance to industry sectors, considering seed industry a preferred area of investment, encouraging private sector involvement, and protecting the local seed industry against unfair competition from imported seeds.
Seed is defined as 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, corms, cuttings, and micro-propagated plantlets.
The National Seed Industry Council is a body created to replace the Philippine Seed Board. It is composed of the Secretary of Agriculture as Chairman, Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry as Vice Chairman and Executive Director, Deans and Directors from various agricultural and research institutions, two representatives from accredited farmers' organizations, and one representative from the seed industry.
The Council formulates policies to stimulate plant breeding, encourages practices to improve seed quality, promotes infrastructure development, formulates national seed industry development programs, grants awards and subsidies to breeders, and promulgates rules and regulations to implement the Act.
The Executive Director executes and implements Council policies, assists in management and supervision, coordinates seed programs across agencies, manages budgetary appropriations and financial disbursements, and supervises the Council Secretariat maintaining official records.
This body formulates plans and programs on seed quality control, conducts seed sampling and analysis, inspects seed crops and facilities, conducts seed research and training, collects reasonable fees, supervises official seed testing laboratories, accredits private seed labs, and performs other functions assigned by the Council.
The incentives include technical assistance and training, exemption from duties and taxes on certain technical equipment for five years with conditions, and a 200% deduction from gross income for research, development, and extension expenses for the first five years of operation.
Prohibited acts include importing seeds commercially that are locally produced except for special cases, exporting rare species except for scientific or exchange purposes as determined by the Council, and other activities the Council may prohibit.
Violations are punishable by a fine not exceeding Ten thousand pesos (P10,000) or imprisonment up to five years, or both, at the court's discretion. If a firm or association is involved, officers who knowingly participated may be imprisoned.