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Punjab Gazette · Government of Punjab

Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Act, 2020

Published 18 October 2020

Department
Vidhan Sabha
Type
Extra Ordinary
Notification no.
27-PLA-2020/71
Gazetteid
CHD/0092/2018-2020
Identifier
in.gazette.punjabdsa.2020-10-18.48691
Languages
English, Punjabi

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Regd. No. NW/CH-22 Regd. No. CHD/0092/2018-2020 1745 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

EXTRAORDINARY

Published by Authority

CHANDIGARH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVINA 26, 1942 SAKA)

PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA SECRETARIAT

NOTIFICATION

The 18th October, 2020

No. 27-PLA-2020/71.- The Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato

Bill, 2020 is hereby published for general information under the proviso to rule

121 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan

Sabha (Punjab Legislative Assembly):-

Bill No.27-PLA-2020

THE PUNJAB TISSUE CULTURE BASED SEED POTATO BILL, 2020

A

BILL

to provide for regulating the quality of potato seeds produced through

tissue culture plants in aeroponics or nethouse and for matters connected

therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in the Seventy-

first Year of the Republic of India, as follows:-

1. (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed

Potato Act, 2020.

Short title, extent and commencement.

( 1745 )

1746 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Punjab.

(3) It shall come into force on and with effect from the date of its

publication in the Official Gazette.

Definitions. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "Agriculture" includes horticulture;

(b) "Appellate Authority" means Director, Department of Horticulture,

Punjab;

(c) "certification agency" means the Punjab State Seed Certification

Authority or any other such agency as may be notified by the State

Government;

(d) "Committee" means the Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato

Committee constituted under section 3 of this Act;

(e) "Licensing Authority" means the Department of Horticulture, Punjab

which shall issue the license for seed potato production through tissue

culture based aeroponics or nethouse facility in the State of Punjab;

(f) "notified variety", in relation to seed potato, means a variety thereof

notified under section 5 of the Seeds Act, 1966;

(g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(h) "Schedule" means the Schedule appended to this Act;

(i) "seed potato" means potato minitubers or tubers raised through

tissue culture based aeroponics or nethouse technology and its

successive field generations used for sowing or planting;

(j) ''seed potato grower'' means the Farmer Producer Organisation

(FPOs) or Society or group of farmers or seed producing company

or individual grower;

(k) 'State Government' means the Government of the State of Punjab

in the Department of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare;

(l) "State Seed Laboratory", means the State Seed Laboratory established

under sub-section (2) of section 4 of the Seeds Act, 1966 or any other

laboratory notified as such by the State Government; and

(m) "variety" means a sub-division or grouping of plants within the

cultivated potato identifiable by growth, yield, plant, fruit, seed or

other characteristics.

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1747

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

3. (1) The State Government shall, as soon as may be after the

commencement of this Act, constitute a Committee to be called the Tissue

Culture Based Seed Potato Committee to advise the State Government on

Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Committee.

matters arising out of the administration of this Act and matters related thereto

and to carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by the

Government.

(2) The Committee constituted under sub-section (1) may appoint one

or more Sub-Committees consisting wholly of members of the Committee or

wholly of other persons or partly of members of the Committee and partly of

other persons, as it thinks fit, for the purpose of discharging such of its functions

as may be delegated to such Sub-Committee or Sub-Committees by the

Committee.

4. The specified minimum seed certification standards shall be as per the

Schedule appended to this Act.

Minimum seed certification standards.

5. The Punjab State Seed Certification Authority established under Section 8 Certification agency .

of the Seeds Act, 1966 or any other agency, as may be notified by the State

Government shall be the certification agency for certification and traceability

for such other purposes.

6. (1) Any seed potato grower involved in the production, multiplication

of tissue culture based seed potato, if he desires to have such seed certified

by the certification agency, may apply to the certification agency for the grant

Grant of certificate by certification agency.

of a certificate for the purpose.

(2) Every application under sub-section (1) shall be made in such form,

and shall contain such particulars and shall be accompanied by such fees, as

may be prescribed.

(3) On receipt of any such application for the grant of a certificate, the

certification agency may, after such enquiry as it thinks fit and after satisfying

itself that the seed to which the application relates conforms to the minimum

seed certification standards specified for that seed under section 4 of this Act,

grant a certificate in such form and subject to such conditions, as may be

prescribed.

(4) The certification agency shall ensure full traceability of each certified

class of seed and that the material being initiated for producing mini-tubers is

of notified variety and confirmed identity, including all documentation with

respect to its origin.

1748 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

7. If the certification agency is satisfied, either on a reference made to it in

Revocation of certificate.

this behalf or otherwise, that,-

(a) the certificate granted by it under section 6 has been obtained by

misrepresentation as to an essential fact; or

(b) the holder of the certificate has, without reasonable cause, failed

to comply with the conditions subject to which the certificate has

been granted or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act

or the rules made there under, then, without prejudice to any other

penalty to which the holder of the certificate may be liable under

this Act, the certification agency may, after giving the holder of

the certificate an opportunity of showing cause, revoke the

certificate.

Appeal.

8. (1) Any person aggrieved by a decision of a certification agency under

section 6 or section 7, may, within thirty days from the date on which the

decision is communicated to him and on payment of such fees, as may be

prescribed, prefer an appeal to Appellate Authority:

Provided that the Appellate Authority may entertain an appeal after

the expiry of the said period of thirty days, if it is satisfied that the appellant

was prevented by a sufficient cause from presenting the appeal within the

said period of thirty days.

(2) On receipt of an appeal under sub-section (1), the Appellate

Authority shall, after giving the appellant an opportunity of being heard, pass

such order as it thinks fit.

(3) Every order of the Appellate Authority under this section, shall be

final.

Review of order. 9. The Additional Chief Secretary (Development) may, suo moto or on the

application of the person to a reference, call for and examine the record of

any proceedings in which no appeal under section 8 of this Act lies before the

Appellant Authority, as the case may be, for the purpose of satisfying himself

as to the legality or propriety of any decision or order passed and if in any

case appears to the Additional Chief Secretary (Development) that any such

decision or order should be modified, annulled or revised, the Additional Chief

Secretary (Development), as the case may be, may, after giving persons

affected thereby an opportunity of being heard, pass such order thereon, as he

may deem fit.

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1749

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

Penalty.

10. (1) If any seed potato grower contravenes any of the provisions of this

Act or any rule made there under, he shall be liable,-

(a) to pay for the first offence with fine which may extend to fifty

thousand rupees, and

(b) in the event of such person having been previously convicted of an

offence under this section, to undergo imprisonment for a term

which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to

one lakh rupees, or with both.

(2) The Sub-Committee constituted under sub-section (2) of section 3

of this Act shall recommend the licensing authority to cancel the license and

blacklist the person restricting him for dealing with any kind of seed production

for a minimum period of three years.

11. When any person has been convicted under this Act for the contravention Forfeiture of seed.

of any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made there under, the seed in

respect of which the contravention has been committed shall be forfeited and

destroyed.

12. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the

Government or any officer of the State Government for anything which is

Protection of action taken in good faith.

done in good faith or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or the

rules made thereunder.

13. (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette Power to make rules.

make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the fore-

going power, such rules may provide, for all or any of the following matters,

namely:-

(a) the functions of the committee referred in section 3 of this Act;

and

(b) any other matter, which is to be or may be prescribed, under

this Act.

(3) Every rule made under this section, shall be laid, as soon as may

be, after it is made, before the house of the State Legislature while it is in

session for a total period of ten days, which may be comprised in one session

or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session

in which, it is so laid or the successive sessions as aforesaid, the house agrees 1750 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

in making any modification in the rules or the house agrees that the rules

should not be made, the rules shall thereafter have effect only in such modified

form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however, that any such

modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything

previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

14. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the

Power to remove difficulties.

State Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such

provision not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appears to the

Government to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the

difficulty:

Provided that no such order shall be made under this section, after

the expiry of a period of three years from the date of commencement of this

Act.

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1751

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

SCHEDULE

(see section 4)

DRAFT OF MINIMUM SEED CERTIFICATION STANDARDS

FOR TISSUE CULTURE BASED SEED POTATO

I. Application and Amplification of General Seed Standards for tissue

culture based potato seed

(a) The general seed standards are applicable to tissue culture raised mini-

tubers (G-0) multiplied through aeroponics or nethouse conditions and

further multiplied in the field for four generations (G1-G4) as shown

below:

Stages of 'Tissue Culture Based Potato Production System'

Mother Plant

Multiplication through Tissue Culture (8-12) Cuttings/Subculture)

G0 Aeroponics G0 Net House

G1 Open Field G1 Open Field

G2 Open Field G2 Open Field

G3 Open Field G3 Open Field

G4 Open Field G4 Open Field

I. Eligibility requirements for tissue culture based mini-tubers (G-0)

The mini-tubers to be eligible for certification shall be from a source

meeting the following standards aeroponics or nethouse facilities.

(i) Laboratory and aeroponics or nethouse facilities used for production of

plantlets/micro-tubers or mini-tubers shall be maintained free of potato

pests or vectors of potato pathogens. Failure to keep such pests under

control may cause rejection of all lots maintained in the facility. All potting

or growth media shall be sterile. Water to be used in a laboratory or

aeroponics or nethouse operation should be free from impurities.

(ii) Hygienic conditions like maintenance of air purity, sub culturing under

laminar flow only, use of pure tissue grade chemicals for media

preparation, proper autoclaving of cultured media, proper disposal of

contamination etc. shall be strictly observed during micro propagation, 1752 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

potting, planting, irrigating, movement and use of equipment and other

laboratory practices to guard against the spread of diseases or pests in

the facilities used for seed multiplication.

(iii) All micro propagation and aeroponics or nethouse facilities must be

approved by authorised State or Central Govt agency, as per the standard/

guidelines. These facilities must have a changing area between the double

doors.

(iv) The aeroponics facility used for mini-tuber production from micro-plants

shall be approved by Central Potato research Institute, Shimla

(v) The net house must be "insect proof" and be equipped with a double-

door entrance, provision for footwear disinfection prior to entering the

net house and insect proof ventilation screening on intakes and exhaust

openings. The persons entering the aeroponics or nethouse facility should

use Wellington boots (Plastic boots) and change lab-coat in the changing

area to reduce the chances of inadvertent introduction of vector insects

clinging to clothes.

(vi) The material being initiated for producing mini-tubers must be of Notified

variety and confirmed identity. It must be duly documented with respect

to origin.

(vii) The plants of a potato varieties being initiated for tissue culture should

be tested in an accredited laboratory for freedom from the following

PVA (Potato Virus A), PVS (Potato Virus S), PVM (Potato Virus M),

PVY (Potato Virus Y), PVX (Potato Virus X), PLRV (Potato Leaf Role

Virus), PALCV (Potato Apical Leaf Curl Virus), GBNV (Groundnut

Bud Necrosis Virus), PSTVd (Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid) entophytic

and Phytoplasma or epiphytic bacteria and fungi. Tests must be carried

on a minimum of ten plantlets of each variety selected at random. For

virus testing ELISA or an equivalent method should be used, for viroid

RT-PCR should be used, and for fungi and bacteria light microscopy and

culturing on media should be used.

2. Sources of seed

(i) The tissue culture facility should use recognized aseptic initiation

and propagation procedures (i.e. follow procedures and use

equipment, which will maintain sterile conditions as per standard

tissue culture norms).

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1753

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

(ii) The initiating facility must maintain following information on each

variety for review and audit by the competent authority once in a

year: variety identification, date of initiation, origin and testing results

from accredited laboratory.

(iii) Tests must be carried out on a minimum of ten plantlets (lot size as

per SOP of Department of Biotechnology, GOI) selected at random,

for each variety by an accredited laboratory. No plant should contain

PVA, PVS, PVM, PVY, PVX, PLRV, PALCV, GBNV,

phytoplasma, PSTVd and other endophytic or epiphytic bacteria

and fungi.

(iv) Valid pathogen testing results are required prior to the initiation of

micro tuber production cycle or planting of test tube plantlets in the

aeroponics or nethouse facility.

(v) Mini-tubers/micro-tubers shall be produced and multiplied from

approved source in vitro plants as per the requirements.

(vi) Aeroponics or nethouse produced mini-tubers must be certified as

G0 by the Punjab State Seed Certification Authority.

(vii) G0 shall be used for further production of G1 to G4 certified classes

of seed as prescribed in proposed seed standards. The certificates

shall be issued by the Punjab State Seed Certification Authority.

II. Aeroponics or nethouse Environment Requirements

(a) All micro propagation and aeroponics or nethouse facilities must

meet the standards given above under eligibility requirements.

(b) The soil used for mini-tuber production should not be infested with

pathogen and pests of potato, particularly the following:

• wart (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc.) and or cyst

forming nematodes;

• brown rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (E.F. Sm.) E.F. Sm.) or non-cyst

forming nematodes within the previous three years;

• common scab (Streptomyces scabies (Thaxt.) Waks. & Henrici).

• Black scurf (Rhizoctonia Solani Kuehn).

(c) The nutrient medium used for aeroponics shall be prepared in clean

water free from all potato pathogens.

1754 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

III. Inspection of Aeroponics or nethouse facility used for production

of mini-tubers (G-0).

a. The seed potato grower must notify the competent authority

of his production plans 30 days prior to the recommended

planting date.

b. The crop must be grown from approved basic source in vitro

plants which were produced, in an aseptic environment.

c. The tissue plantlets in the aeroponics or nethouse facility will

be planted at 15x15cm and 30x15 cm, respectively.

d. A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:

i. The first inspection shall be made at 30-35 days to verify growing

conditions, extent of disease infection and off types;

ii. The second inspections shall be made at 60-65 days after planting

to verify off types, disease infection if any and pathogen testing, on

a representative sample, comprising of 1% of the plants with a

minimum of 5 and a maximum of 25 plants sampled for each variety:

iii. The third inspection shall be made immediately after haulms cutting/

destruction in the net house crop in order to verify that haulms

have been cut/destroyed by the prescribed date and proper manner.

iv. In case the crop is grown under aeroponics, third inspection can be

after the crop has been finally terminated.

v. Effective sanitation practices including insect and disease monitoring

and prevention must be adhered to.

vi. The aeroponics or nethouse must be free from all potato and

solanaceous plant debris before planting.

vii. No field-produced seed potatoes (including pathogen tested clonal

selections), non-seed potatoes, nor any other solanaceous species

of plants can be grown in the net house while used to produce

minitubers.

viii. Varieties must be separated by appropriate partitioning of net house

to prevent varietal mixture.

ix. If testing performed by an accredited laboratory reveals the

presence of banned virus (es), fungus or bacteria, all the crops in

the net house will be ineligible for multiplication and the entire

material will be destroyed.

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1755

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

x. In the eventuality of detection of insect (particularly aphids, thrips

and white flies) vectors (for which yellow sticky traps should be

put at least at three places in the net house) by competent Authority,

the grower must provide post harvest test results to this authority.

A representative sample, representing each variety grown in the

net house must be post harvest tested and if the results are negative

for PVA, PVS, PVM, PVY, PVX, PLRV GBNV, phytoplasma,

and PALCV, the crop will be assigned G0 status or otherwise

rejected.

IV. Land Requirements

A crop of seed potato (G1-G4) shall not be eligible for certification if

grown on land infested with:

(a) Wart (Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilb.) Perc. And or cyst

forming nematodes;

(b) Brown rot (Ralstonia solanacearum (E.F. Sm.) E.F. Sm.) Or non-

cyst forming nematodes within the previous three years;

(c) Common scab (Streptomyces scabies (Thaxt.) Waks. & Henrici).

(d) Crop rotation schedule as per seed plot technique.

V. Field Inspection

A minimum of four inspections shall be made as follows:

(a) the first inspection shall be made about 30-35 days after planting the

mini-tubers to verify isolation, offtypes and the extent of disease infection

with specific reference to mild and severe mosaics, leaf roll, PACLV,

GBNV, phytoplasma, brown rot late blight and other relevant factors;

(b) the second inspection shall be made about 60-65 days after planting

the mini-tubers to check isolation, off types and extent of disease

infection with specific reference to mild and severe mosaics, leaf

roll, yellow, brown rot and other relevant factors;

(c) the third inspection shall be made immediately after haulms cutting/

destruction in order to verify that haulms have been cut/destroyed

by the prescribed date and in proper manner;

(d) the fourth inspection shall be made about 10 days after haulms

cutting/destruction and before harvesting in order to verify that no

re-growth of haulms has taken place.

1756 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

VI. Seed Standards

A. Standards for mini-tuber (G-0) production in the aeroponics/

nethouse facility

(1) General requirements

(i) Isolation: Minimum 1 meter between the different varieties grown

in net house, so as to avoid mechanical admixture. In aeroponics

facility separate grow boxes shall be used for each variety and

two varieties cannot be grown in the same grow box.

(ii) All micro propagation and aeroponics or nethouse facilities must

be approved by competent authority set up by the state Govt.,

as per the standards given above under eligibility requirements.

(2) Specific requirements

Maximum permissible limits

Factor Maximum permissible limit

*Off type 0.001%

*Plants showing symptoms of mild 0.001%

mosaic

*Plants showing symptoms of severe Nil

mosaic, leaf roll, PACLV, GBNV,

phytoplasma and apical leaf curl

**Plants infected with brown rot Nil

(Ralstonia solanacearum)

* At the time of crop termination

**Maximum permitted at final inspection in the net house raised crop

(3) Seed Standards for mini-tuber

Factor Permissible limit

Weight of minituber (minimum) 1.0 g (minimum)

Germination (minimum) 90% (minimum)

Varietal purity (percent plants) 99% (minimum)

Virus infestation (percent plants) 0.001% (maximum) PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1757

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

B . Field standards for G1 to G4 Crop raised out of Potato Tissue

Culture based mini-tuber.

(1) General requirements

Isolation: The fields of seed potato shall be isolated from the

contaminants shown in column 1 of the Table below by the distances

specified in columns 2-6 of the said Table

Containments Minimum distance (meters)

                                       G1 G2          G3 G4
Fields of other varieties               5    5         5     5
Fields of same variety not conforming   5    5         5     5
to requirement for certification

(2) Specific requirements

Factor Maximum Permissible limits

G1 G2 G3 G4

Off types (%)(1st and 2nd inspection) 0% 0% 0.05% 0.05%

Plants showing symptoms of mild mosaic 0% 0% 1.0% 2.0%

(1st and 2nd inspection)

Plants showing symptoms of severe 0% 0% 0.5% 0.75%

mosaic, leaf roll, PACLV, GBNV,

phytoplasma (1st and 2nd inspection)

*Total virus 0% 0% 1.0% 2.0%

Plants infected by brown rot (syn None None None None

Bacterial wilt) Ralstonia solanacearum

(1st and 2nd inspection)

**Regrowth of plants after destruction 0% 0% 0.5% 0.5%

of haulms (4th inspection)

*Of the two inspections, the higher virus percentage will be considered

for the purpose of the specified limits of tolerance.

**Standards for re-growth after destruction of haulms shall be met at

fourth inspection to be conducted about 10 days after haulms cutting.

Note:

(i) All off types and diseased plants should be rouged out along with

the tubers and destroyed.

(ii) Gaps in the seed plot should not be more than 10.0%.

1758 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

(iii) Haulms must be destroyed as close to the ground as possible before

the date specified by the Certification Agency. Failure to destroy

haulms in time shall render the crop liable for rejection.

C. Seed Standards (G1 to G4)

(1) Size and weight Specification

Size Mean length and two widths at the Corresponding

middle of tuber weight

Seed Size   30-55 mm                           25-125 g
Large size  Above 55 mm                        Above 125 g

Note:

(i) The size of tuber will be decided either on the basis of mean of two

widths of a tuber at the middle and that of length or on the basis of

corresponding weight of tuber.

(ii) In a seed lot, tubers not conforming to specific size of seed shall

not exceed more than 5.0% (by number).

(iii) The seed material shall be reasonably clean, healthy, firm and

shall conform to the characteristics of the variety. The tubers not

conforming to the varietal characteristics shall not exceed 0.050%

for G1 and G2 class of seed and 0.10% (by number) for G3, G4

and G4 class of seed.

(iv) Cut, bruised, unshapy, cracked tubers or those damaged by insects,

slugs or worms shall not exceed more than 1.0% (by weight).

(v) Greenish pigmentation on tubers will not be a disqualification for

certification.

(2) Maximum tolerance limit of tubers showing visible symptoms

caused by the diseases mentioned below will be as follows:

Disease Maximum Permissible limits

(By number)

                                  G1      G2      G3     G4
Late  blight  (Phytophthora       0.1%    0.1%    0.5%   1.0%
infestations  (Mont.)  de  Bary),

PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1759

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

dry rot (Fusarium caeruleum

(Lib.) Sacc.) or Charcoal rot

(Macrophomina phaseoli (Tassi)

G. Goidanich).

Wet rot (Scierotium rolfsii) None None None None

Sacc.)

*Common scab (Streptomyces 1.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0%

scabies (Thaxt) Waks. &

Henrici)

Brown rot (Ralstonia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

solanacearum (E.F. Sm.)

E.F. Sm.)

**Black scurf (Rhizoctonia 2.0% 3.0% 5.0% 5.0%

solani Kuehn.)

Total diseases 3.1% 4.1% 7.5% 9.0%

*Even if a single tuber infected with common scab is detected in a seed

lot, the entire seed lot shall be treated with approved chemical before

seed lot is declared fit for certification. Seed lots having infected tubers

more than the prescribed limits will not be certified even after treatment.

**(i) A tuber carrying 5% or above scuffed surface will be considered

as one infected unit.

(ii) Seed lots having black scurf infection more than the prescribed

limits (5-10%) could be certified after treatment with approved

chemical/fungicide.

(iii) For all diseases, the higher disease percentage will be considered

for the purpose of the specified limits of tolerance.

3. Traceability

(i) Producer of any class of seed must keep written record of the

source of seed used for producing next class of seed.

(ii) At the time of certification, information like name, address, phone

number and email of the producing agency shall be clearly mentioned

on the seed label.

1760 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

(iii) Only certified seed of one class can be used to produce certified

seed of next class. This rule shall apply from G0 to G4 to ensure

full traceability.

(iv) The label must have a QR code containing all the information printed

on the label.

4. Labelling of Seed G0 to G4

Seed tubers shall be supplied in sealed containers. A cloth-lined label of

12 cm x 6 cm containing following information shall be affixed on the

container.

Label Number Crop Potato

Variety

Class of Seed

Lot No.

Germination/sprouting (Minimum)

Producing agency (Name, address, phone #, email)

Approving authority Signature and stamp

QR Code Tag colour: G0 (Grey), G1 (Pink), G2 (Brown), G3 (Orange), G4 (Red) PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020 1761

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

Statement of Objects and Reasons

In order to fulfil the demand and availability of virus/ disease free

certified seed, providing impetus to crop diversification and benefit to potato

farmers, a seed potato certification system has been devised integrating the

seed potato produced through tissue culture technology using Aeroponics/ net

house facilities. Due to favourable environment conditions, State will be

developed as a hub for production of quality seed potato.

'The Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Bill, 2020' is aimed

to achieve this objective by providing for a certification system for mini tubers

raised through tissue culture technology using Aeroponics/ net house facilities

and its successive generations.

(AMARINDER SINGH)

Chief Minister, Punjab and

Minister Incharge Agriculture &

Farmers' Welfare Department.

1762 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), OCTOBER 18, 2020

(ASVN 26, 1942 SAKA)

MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Section 13 of the Punjab Tissue Culture Based Seed Potato Bill, 2020

empowers the State Government to make rules to carry out the purposes of

this Act. The powers sought are necessary for the proper implementation of

the provisions of the Act and are normal in nature.

______________

CHANDIGARH SHASHI LAKHANPAL MISHRA

THE 18th OCTOBER, 2020 SECRETARY.

2130/10-2020/Pb. Govt. Press, S.A.S. Nagar

Cite this issue. Punjab Gazette, Government of Punjab, 18 October 2020. Indian Gazettes, https://egazette.servantsofknowledge.in/details/in.gazette.punjabdsa.2020-10-18.48691/. Archive identifier in.gazette.punjabdsa.2020-10-18.48691.