Haryana Assembly passes bills against counterfeit agricultural products

The Haryana Assembly passed six important bills on Thursday, including amendments to two central agricultural laws. These changes are focused on strengthening the regulation of seeds and insecticides in the state. The amendments to the Seeds Act, 1966, and the Insecticides Act, 1968, aim to protect farmers from counterfeit and low-quality products. Agriculture minister Shyam Singh Rana reported that the new laws will impose tougher penalties for those selling fake seeds and insecticides. These amendments require the President's approval to take effect. Under the Seeds (Haryana Amendment) Bill, sellers will face severe consequences for violating quality standards. Many sellers do not meet required standards, resulting in financial loss for farmers. The Insecticides (Haryana Amendment) Bill aims to control the sale of misbranded insecticides, which harm both crop health and farmer income. The government has also appointed agricultural officers and inspectors to enforce these new regulations. They will work to ensure that only safe and approved products are sold in the market. Additionally, the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill was passed to improve accountability in rural governance. It allows individuals under investigation to have a fair hearing and requires timely completion of inquiries related to fund management. The Sports University of Haryana (Amendment) Bill was introduced to align the university's operations with UGC norms. It restricts the university's jurisdiction to Haryana, preventing violations of educational regulations. Another key bill approved was the Haryana Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill. Lastly, the Haryana Appropriation (Number 1) Bill was introduced to allocate funds for state government expenditures in 2024-25. These legislative changes reflect the Haryana government's commitment to supporting agriculture while enhancing governance.