Two years after dropping cotton seed from the list of essential commodities, the government today decided to re-include it n order to regulate the quality more effectively, especially that of Bt cotton seeds. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told ewsmen after the Cabinet meeting that the Cabinet today gave approval for re-inclusion of cotton seed as an essential commodity for six months by amending the schedule to the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955, or till the Seed Bill is passed by Parliament, whichever is earlier Cotton seed was out of the ambit of essential items when the ECA was amended in 2007. At present, major essential commodities include rice, wheat, different pulses and sugar. She said that after the inclusion, the government would be able to regulate production, quality and distribution of cotton seeds and curb the sale and spread of spurious seeds. The decision came amid fears about dip in cotton output this year, mainly due to floods in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.