Mapa suspends sale of more than 2 thousand tons of illegal seeds

Around 2.700 tons of soybean seeds for sale, coming from seed production fields not registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), were seized during an inspection at a seed producing company in the municipality of Campo Verde ( MT). The seeds were stored in 1.000-kilo bags, all from the same cultivar, registered in the National Cultivar Registry (RNC) and protected by the National Cultivar Protection Service (SNPC).

A notice of infraction was drawn up, for violating the Seeds and Seedlings Legislation, and an order to suspend the sale of seeds, as a precautionary measure. “The production of seeds from production fields not registered with the Map is a very serious infraction. The company will respond to an administrative inspection process, through which, by guaranteeing the precepts of broad defense and contradictory proceedings, any infractions found will be duly investigated and applicable penalties will be applied”, explains the general coordinator of Seeds and Seedlings at the Secretariat of Agricultural Defense, Virginia Carpi.

Among the penalties established by the Seeds and Seedlings Law are: monetary fine, seizure of seeds or seedlings, condemnation of seeds or seedlings, suspension of registration in the National Register of Seeds and Seedlings (Renasem) and revocation of registration in Renasem. The monetary fine may be applied with a value equivalent to up to 250% of the commercial value of the inspected product, when applicable to production, processing or commercialization.

Actions to combat illegal seeds and seedlings are carried out by Mapa's decentralized units in the Federation Units. Interstate task forces are also created for regional actions.

The seed is one of the most important inputs in the production system, as it contains technology and improvement factors that generate practical, visible and measurable agronomic results. Raising awareness of the importance and added value of this input to rural producers is essential to combat seed piracy.