Seed Proclamation No.782/2013.

This Proclamation concerns the improvement of seed for agricultural production in Ethiopia. It shall ensure that the supply of quality seed is made available to fanners, agro-pastoralists and 'other seed users. "Seed" shall include seed, seedlings or any other plant propagating material intended for-planting. This Proclamation may not be applicable to: a) the use of farm-saved seed by any person or the exchange or sale of farm-saved seed among smallholder farmers or agro- pastoralists; b) seed to be used for research; or c) forestry seed. Any variety intended for domestic or export market shall be released by the Ministry before it is produced locally. There shall be Evaluation Committees for evaluation of seed performance and a National Variety Release Committee that shall propose varieties for release based on the reports of the evaluation committees. Released varieties shall be entered into the National Variety Register. Any person who intends to engage in commercial seed production shall have a certificate of competence and shall establish an internal seed quality control system. The production of seeds for domestic consumption shall be executed on the basis of integrated planning. The Ministry shall maintain a register of seed producers and distributers. Other provisions of this Proclamation concern, among other things: quality control and assurance, labelling of seed, import and export of seed (which requires a permit and a certificate of competence), grievance procedures and seed inspection. Any seed with genetically modified organisms may be imported if the Ministry receives prior assurance of its compliance with the applicable legislation from the Environmental Protection Authority. The Proclamation defines offences.