Section 6: National Plant Varieties and Seeds Committee

6. National Plant Varieties and Seeds Committee (1) There shall be a National Plant Varieties and Seeds Committee which shall also be known as the Seeds Committee. (2) The functions of the Seeds Committee shall be to— (a) advise the Minister on national policies relating to the cultivation, production, trade, exportation and importation of seeds of any variety of any kind of plant; [Issue 10] S8A – 4 Revised Laws of Mauritius (b) guide and supervise NPVSO in the enforcement of this Act; (c) make recommendations to the Minister for the improvement of the seed regulatory system; (d) make recommendations to the Minister on the release of any variety in Mauritius; (e) carry out such other functions as the Minister may determine. (3) (a) The Seeds Committee shall, subject to paragraph (b), consist of— (i) a Chairperson, suitably qualified or experienced in the field of agriculture, to be appointed by the Minister; (ii) the supervising officer or his representative; (iii) the Chief Executive Officer of the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority or his representative; (iv) the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute or his representative; (v) — (vi) the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Mauritius or his representative; (vii) the Head of the National Plant Protection Office set up within the Ministry under the Plant Protection Act or his representative; (viii) a representative of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture; (ix) a representative of an association of planters, other than sugar cane planters, to be appointed by the Minister; and (x) 3 representatives from the seed industry, to be appointed by the Minister. (b) The Minister may, where he considers it necessary, vary the composition of the Seeds Committee. (c) A member, other than a member referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) to (viii), shall hold office for a period of 2 years and shall be eligible for reappointment. (d) At a meeting of the Seeds Committee, 7 members shall constitute a quorum. (e) The Seeds Committee may co-opt such other persons as may be of assistance in relation to any matter before it. (f) Any person co-opted under paragraph (e) may take part in the deliberations of the Seeds Committee but shall have no right to vote. (g) The Head of NPVSO or his representative shall attend every meeting of the Seeds Committee and may take part in its deliberations but shall have no right to vote. (h) Every member or co-opted member shall be paid such allowance as the Minister may determine. S8A – 5 [Issue 10] Seeds Act (i) The Seeds Committee may set up such subcommittee as may be necessary to assist it in the discharge of its functions. (j) Subject to this section, the Seeds Committee shall regulate its meetings and proceedings in such manner as it may determine. [S. 6 amended by s. 22 (8) (a) of Act 21 of 2013.] (S. 6 came into operation on 8 January 2018.) PART III – REGISTRATION OF VARIETY