Cotton Act, 2025 (Act 14 of 2025).

This Act, consisting of 52 Sections, aims at regulating, promoting, and developing the cotton sector by establishing an institutional and regulatory framework for the production, processing, marketing, and pricing of cotton. More specifically, the Act aims to (i) continue and strengthen the Cotton Board of Zambia and redefine its functions as the main regulatory body for the cotton sector; (ii) regulate the production, ginning, marketing, import, and export of seed cotton through systems of registration, licensing, and monitoring of producers and ginners; (iii) establish mechanisms for price coordination, including a Price Consultative Forum to recommend indicative prices for seed cotton; (iv) set standards for cotton quality, grading, and classification and regulate distinguishing marks for traceability of cotton products; (v) support the development of the cotton industry, including research, extension services, seed production zones, and sector financing through the Cotton Development Trust Fund. The Act prohibits (i) prohibits producing, buying, selling, storing, ginning, importing, or exporting seed cotton for commercial purposes without a registration certificate, with violations punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both; (ii) prohibits registered ginners or producers from ginning or producing seed cotton without a distinguishing mark certificate, with violations punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both; (iii) requires seed cotton packages to be properly marked, sealed, and labelled.
Section 29 provides for inspections, empowering inspectors to enter and search land, premises, vehicles, or persons suspected of violating the Act at reasonable times and without notice, and to examine related documents or items. It also authorizes them to seize evidence, take samples, copy records, and require the production of documents relevant to inspections or investigations. The Act includes General Provisions aiming to regulate and ensure the quality and safety of inputs and services used in cotton production. They require pesticides intended for seed cotton production to be properly registered and tested by designated institutions, ensure that only approved cotton seed, certified pesticides, and fertilisers meeting established standards are distributed to farmers, and mandate that extension services in the cotton sector be provided only by trained individuals or by the Cotton Development Trust, with penalties imposed for non-compliance.