NATIONAL CROP VARIETIES AND LIVESTOCK BREED REGISTRATION ETC AMENDMENT ACT 2016

What Is This Policy?

An Act amending the legislation governing the registration of new crop varieties and livestock breeds in Nigeria, updating procedures for release, registration, and protection of plant breeders' rights and animal genetic resources.

Who Does It Target?

Plant breeders, seed companies, and agricultural research institutes Livestock breeders and gene bank operators National Variety Release Committee Farmers adopting new registered varieties

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

To provide a transparent and science-based system for releasing improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, protect the intellectual property of breeders, prevent release of unsafe or inferior materials, and promote sustainable use of agricultural genetic resources.

Key Features

Variety Registration: New crop varieties must pass Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) and Value for Cultivation and Use (VCU) tests before registration. Breeders' Rights: Registered breeders receive protected breeders' rights over their varieties for a defined term. National Catalogue: Maintains an official catalogue of registered varieties and breeds available to farmers. Livestock Breed Registration: New and imported livestock breeds are assessed and registered before commercial distribution. Genetic Resource Conservation: Provides for the conservation of indigenous genetic resources and farmers' varieties.

Current Status

In force. The amended Act is implemented by the National Variety Release Committee through the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) and relevant agricultural research institutes.

Submit a variety for DUS and VCU testing to the National Agricultural Seeds Council Pay testing and registration fees Breeders of registered varieties may licence production to seed companies Application method: National Agricultural Seeds Council, Abuja

Important Terms

Only registered varieties may be commercially marketed Breeders' rights last for a statutory term after which varieties enter the public domain Farmers may save seed from protected varieties for own use but not for commercial sale

Official Resources

Website: www.seedscouncil.gov.ng Policy Summary Document | Federal Republic of Nigeria

Legal Framework

The National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds Registration Act establishes the regulatory framework for crop variety and livestock breed registration. It operates alongside the National Agricultural Seed Council Act, the Plant Variety Protection Act, and the Animal Diseases (Control) Act. International alignment is with the UPOV Convention on Plant Variety Protection (UPOV 1991), the CGIAR crop genetic resource management framework, and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).