Ministry of Agriculture to Revise Regulation on Seed Governance

The Ministry of Agriculture is currently preparing a revision to Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture No. 50/Permentan/KB.020/9/2015 concerning the Production, Certification, Distribution, and Supervision of Plantation Crop Seeds (“Permentan 50/2015”). The amendment aims to improve seed governance, including by adding classifications for nucleus seeds and clarifying the procedures for the designation of seed source plantations.

“We have reached the public hearing stage in the revision process,” stated Laksmi Wijayanti, Chairman of the Working Group for Variety Assessment and Seed Quality Control.

Laksmi explained that one of the most fundamental changes in the updated regulation is the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on seed licensing, which was not comprehensively regulated in the previous framework. This addition is intended to align the licensing system with the Online Single Submission (“OSS”) scheme as well as the risk-based business licensing approach.

Laksmi further emphasized that several technical and administrative requirements must be fulfilled prior to initiating the licensing process through the OSS system. First, prospective producers must obtain a feasibility certificate as proof that they meet the initial standards to engage in the seed sector. In addition, producers are required to possess or control a legitimate seed source as the basis for production activities.

Furthermore, producers must possess or control seed production units supported by adequate facilities and infrastructure, including competent human resources in the field of seed production.