TABLE 2.
The biosafety regulatory framework and seed laws of selected African Countries.
| Biosafety regulatory framework | Seed acts and implementing regulations | |
| Kenya | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Biosafety Act 2009 and Implementing Regulations to cover contained use, environmental release, import, export, and transit | Seed and Plant Varieties Act (Seed Act; Cap. 326) (GoK, 2012) and the Seeds and Plant Varieties Regulations (NPT Regulations) |
| Agencies/Department | National Biosafety Authority is the Competent Authority | KEPHIS, Ministry of Agriculture |
| Committees | Scientific Advisory Committee | National Performance Trial Committee National Variety Release Committee |
| Nigeria | ||
| Laws and Regulations | National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015 revised in 2019 to National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2019 | National Agricultural Seeds Act, N5 Laws of Nigeria, 2004 revised to give Nation Seed Act (NSC) Act 2019 |
| Agencies/Department | National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) is the National Biosafety Authority | |
| Committees | National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds Registration and Release Committee | |
| Eswatini | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Biosafety Act of 2012 (under review) | Plant Control Act, 1981 (under review); Seeds and Plant Varieties Act of 2000 and Plant Varieties Regulations |
| Agencies/Department | Eswatini Environmental Authority, | |
| Committees | National Biosafety Advisory Committee | National Variety Release Committee |
| Ethiopia | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Biosafety Proclamations (Proclamation No. 655/2009 and the Amendment into Proclamation No. 896/2015). | Seed Proclamation (Proclamation No. 782/2013) revised to give Proclamation No. 206/2000 in 2000 |
| Agencies/Department | Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Commission, | National Seed Quality Control and Certification Division under MoARD |
| Committees | National Crop Improvement Committee | |
| Ghana | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Biosafety Act 831, 2011 and Implementing Regulations | Plants and Fertilizer Act of 2010 (803) |
| Agencies/Department | National Biosafety Authority | National Seed Council (NSC), |
| Committees | Technical and Variety Release Committee (TVRC), National Variety Release and Registration Committee (NVRRC) | |
| Malawi | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Biosafety Act was passed in 2002 and Implementing in 2007 and National Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy was enacted in 2008 | Seed Act of 2005 and recently published Seed Regulations 2018 |
| Agencies/Department | National Biosafety Regulatory Committee (NBRC) is the Competent Authority | The Seed Services Unit of DARS Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) |
| Committees | Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATCC | |
| Mozambique | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Decree no. 6/2007 (regulation) with an amendment in 2014 to allow for the commercialization of GMOs to give Decree 71/2014 of 28 November 2014 | 12/2013 Seed Regulation Decree |
| Agencies/Department | Minister of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education, is competent authority on matters pertaining to GMO approvals | National Seed Committee (NaSC) in Ministry of Agriculture and the Variety Registration and Release Committee |
| Committees | The Grupo Inter-Institucional Sobre Bio-Segurança, (GIIBS) serve as an advisory committee to the Minister of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education | Department of Seeds in the Ministry of Agriculture |
| Sudan | ||
| Laws and Regulations | Biological Safety Act 2010 | New Seed Law in 2009 |
| Agencies/Department | Sudan National Biosafety Council (SNBC) | National Seed Council |
| Committees | ||