Section 6: Functions of the Committee

The Committee shall-(a) receive and process applications for the registration, naming and release of old and new crop varieties and livestock breeds;
(b) officially release the list of superior crop varieties and livestock breeds recommended by any sub-committee established for that purpose;
(c) approve names for new crop varieties and breeds of livestock certified as new or distinct such that uniformity in nomenclature is ensured;
(d) render essential information on the released varieties of crops and livestock breeds, their outstanding characteristics, areas of adaptation and the location of foundation of seeds or stocks of the released varieties and breeds;
(e) monitor the effect of the importation of exotic plants and animals on local species in Nigeria;
(f)
ensure the maintenance of the National Register for all crop varieties and livestock breeds;
(g) interact with national organisations and institutions concerned with large-scale seed and livestock production;
(h) organise, in collaboration with the Genetic Resources Unit of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the maintenance and storage of posterity and germplasm of the registered crop varieties and livestock breeds;
(i) ensure that the importation of any crop variety or livestock breed into Nigeria which are required for general distribution and use shall pass through the process required by this Act in the same way as seeds of new crop varieties and livestock breeds from breeders: and
(j) formulate policies on matters concerning the validation, registration, naming and release of new crop varieties and livestock breeds which are either introduced or developed in Nigeria.