Pursuant to Section 1, Article 48 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992 known as Republic Act No. 7308, the following sections of the said Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are hereby revised in order to fully implement the intent of the Seed Act to read as follows:

1. SECTION 18, Chapter II. Adequate Quantity shall mean that the immediately preceding three year average local production of a seed variety is not less than ninety (90) percent of perceived demand for the seed variety. Perceived demand is defined as the sum of the immediately preceding three year average local production and the corresponding average annual imported volume plus an assumed 20% annual growth or higher. In the case of the latter, higher shall mean the rate certified by the National Seed Industry Council as requested by the private sector. Adequate quantity does not include the case where there is no production and no importation of a known seed variety.

2. SECTION 2, Article 11, Chapter III. Technical Secretariat shall be composed of the heads of the following Technical Working Groups (TWGs), which will be composed of technical personnel from the various institutions and agencies involved in the development of the seed industry:

    a. Rice Varietal Improvement Group

    b. Corn and Sorghum Varietal Improvement Group

    c. Vegetable Varietal Improvement Group

    d. Rootcrops Varietal Improvement Group

    e. Fiber Crops Varietal Improvement Group

    f.  Field Legumes Varietal Improvement Group

    g. Fruit and Plantation Crops Varietal Improvement Group

    h. Ornamental and Medicinal Varietal Group

    i.  Tobacco Varietal Improvement Group

    j. Seed Certification and Seed Standard Group

    k. Seed Extension, Promotion and Marketing Group

    l. Seed Production, Processing, Storage and Distribution Group

3. SECTION 3, Article 11, Chapter III. The Technical Secretariat shall establish seed standards and formulate systems and procedures for varietal identification, evaluation, nomination, review and approval for registration, commercial release, or discontinuation of crop cultivars or varieties in the National Agricultural Crop Production and Development Program. It shall also recommend to the Council policies, rules and regulations to develop and institutionalize crop varietal evaluation and release. Towards these ends, the Technical Working Groups shall have the following functions, duties and responsibilities:

a. Crop Varietal Improvement Groups shall be deleted and its functions shall be assumed by each commodity group as follows:

    1. Conduct field testing and performance evaluation of promising crop varieties and hybrids;

    2. Formulate procedures for varietal evaluation and identification; and

    3. Perform other related functions that may be assigned to it by the Executive Director.

b. Seed Extension Group shall be renamed as Seed Extension, Promotion and Marketing Group with the following functions:

    1. Develop and recommend seed promotion strategies and programs;

    2. Develop training modules and prepare training paraphernalia and other seed extension materials;

    3. Assist in the development and maintenance of a marketing information system; and

    4. Perform other related functions that may be assigned to it by the Executive Director.

d. Seed Monitoring and Marketing Information Group shall be deleted and shall be replaced by Seed Production Processing, Storage and Distribution Group with the following functions:

    1. Monitor and assess the implementation of the Seed Industry Development Program as well as other developments in the seed industry;

    2. Handles and coordinate seed production activities as well as processing, storage and distribution;

    3. Formulate procedures and guidelines on seed production and distribution; and

    4. Perform other related functions that may be assigned to it by the Executive Director.

This Order shall take effect immediately and supersedes all other orders inconsistent herewith.

Adopted: 27 Feb. 1995

(SGD.) ROBERTO S. SEBASTIAN
Secretary