Liberia Seed Development and Certification Agency Act

This Act consisting of 23 articles aims at establishing the Seed Development and Certification Agency (SDCA), the lead organ of the Government of Liberia to coordinate, regulate, administer, and carry out all the functions of seed certification and control, as well as conduct seed development activities for the benefit of the seed industry of Liberia. The main tasks of the SDCA shall be (i) undertake seed regulatory functions, quality control (at all stages and venues of production from the farm to the producer’s or distributor’s storage facility), certification, and enforcement of Seed Regulations; (ii) formulate programs, policies, and actions regarding seed development and the seed industry, including on issues relating to seed testing, registration, release, production, marketing (only seed registered in the national seed catalogue or West African Catalogue of plant Species and Varieties shall be marketed in Liberia and only producers, processors and seed companies/individuals who are registered with the SDCA shall engage in the commercial seed trade of certified seed), distribution, certification, quality control, supply and use of seeds, as well as importation and exportation and quarantine regulations relating thereto; (iii) improve the management system and procedure relating to the administration of the national seed program; (iv) analyze the market and prices of seeds; (v) advise the national research system on the changing pattern of seed demand and farmers’ needs; (vi) monitor and evaluate the achievement of the national seed system and recommend improvements thereon; (vii) encourage the formation or establishment of seed companies in Liberia to carry out research, production, processing, and marketing of seeds; (viii) undertake advocacy for the seed sector and assist in mobilizing resources for the development of the national seed industry. The following units, whose functions are listed in article 5, will form part of the structure of the Agency (i) Seed Industry Planning and Development Unit; (ii) Variety Registration and Release Unit; (iii) Seed Certification and Standards Unit; (iv) Administration and Finance Unit.
Article 7 establishes the National Seed Board (NSB) with the following main tasks (i) contributing to the implementation of this Act and Regulations promulgated in matters of seed quality control, certification, and marketing; (ii) formulating the overall policy guidelines and monitoring the development of the National Seed System through the SDCA; (iii) working closely with the relevant institutions in the management of the seed sector support fund; (iv) ensuring that all information on seeds is accurate and periodically provide such information for verification of compliance with the approved seed quality control and certification system; (v) establishing mechanisms for resource mobilization. As provided by article 17, the SDCA shall report periodically to the NSB. Article 13 establishes the Seed Development Fund, maintained by the SDCA, from which shall be defrayed all expenditure incurred by the SDCA and NSB for the management, support, coordination, and development of the seed industry.
As regards the import and export, the Act provides that the import and export of conventional seeds shall be subject to a prior declaration to the SDCA or Seed Inspector as the case may be (art.21). Violations for which penalties are incurred are prescribed in Article 23.