Seed Legislation Status for Tanzania

Introduction Seed legislation: Seed Act No. 18 of 2003 Seed Regulations 2007 (GN NO. 37/2007); Plant Breeders Rights Act No. 22 of 2002 Plant Protection Act 1997

Need for seed legislation Factors that have influenced enactment of seed legislation include seed as tradable commodity (trade linearization) seed breeding as an intellectual property right

Need for seed legislation cont.. The need for harmonization in the region by interested parties (EA Countries) The project: “Harmonization of Seed Policies and Regulation in Eastern African”  Kenya,  Tanzania  Uganda Started in September 1999

The harmonized areas Variety evaluation and registration Seed certification, Seed phytosanitary regulations, Plant variety protection, Seed import and export documentation and procedures.

Implementation Based on the agreements - incorporate their national legislations, changes of Seeds Acts and Regulations Two Acts were enacted  Plant Variety Protection Act 2002  Seeds Act 2003 and Seeds regulations 2007 Implementation of the Legal Agreement

SADC Harmonization The need to harmonize Promote the entry of new improved varieties Ease the movement of quality seed amongst SADC countries

Agreed areas of harmonization Crop variety testing, release and registration system (Seed Variety Release) Seed certification and quality assurance system (Seed Certification & Quality Assurance) Quarantine and Phytosanitary Measures for Seed

Legislation status Gaps identified  Seed variety release  Seed certification standards  Phytosanitary measures Ministerial consensus established  To review all Seeds legislations Seeds Act 2003 Plant Breeders Act 2002 Plant Protection Act 1997

Legislation status cont... Focus of New Seeds Legislations  Allign with SADC Protocol & EA harmonization agreements SVR SC standards Seed import and export procedures Q & PM (Regional pest list)

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