Seeds Act, 2003 (No. 18 of 2003).

The Act consists of 33 sections divided into five Parts, i.e. Preliminary provisions (I); Establishment of the National Seeds Committee (II); Importation, exportation, and sales of seeds (III); Registration of seeds dealers; (IV) Miscellaneous provisions (V).
The National Seeds Committee is established under section 3 as a technical committee. The National Seeds Committee shall be a Stakeholders' Forum responsible for advising the Government on all matters relating to the development of the Tanzania seed industry (sect. 5). Section 8 concerns appointment of the Chief Seed Quality Controller and inspectors and analysts for purposes of this Act. No person shall, while holding the office of Seed Quality Controller, Inspector, or Analyst engage in any business connected with the production, processing, sale or importation of seed, but he Chief Seed Quality Controller may permit a private specified producer, processor, seller or distributor to employ an analyst appointed under section 8 to effect the internal seed quality control. The Tanzania Official Seeds Certification Institute is established as a body corporate under section 10. Section 10 concerns powers of delegation of the Minister, whereas section12 defines powers of the Minister to issue Orders. Any person, who intends to deal with importation, exportation, production, processing, distribution, sale or advertisement for sale of seeds shall obtain a permit from the Director (as defined by section 2). The Director shall, before granting the permit, ensure that the standards and conditions for importation, production, processing, distribution sale or advertisement for sale of seeds, as provided for in the Plant Protection Act and in this Act, have been complied with. The Minister shall for the purpose of this Act, prescribe the plant varieties and standards of the seeds for importation, exportation, production, processing and distribution (sect. 13). Section 14 prescribes other requirements regarding grades and marking of seeds. Other provisions of this Act deal with registration of seeds dealers by the Director, powers of inspectors and sampling and prescribe offences.