Luanda, July 23, 2026 (Lusa) - Angola's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has submitted two draft decrees to the Economic Committee of the cabinet for consideration: one on the protection of new seed varieties and the other on increasing veterinary service fees.
Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, Angola's minister of agriculture and forestry, Isaac dos Anjos, said that the proposed decree and regulations on the protection of new seed varieties and the rights of seed breeders and producers are primarily aimed at protecting the intellectual property rights of seed producers.
Isaac dos Anjos emphasised that, with this legislation, Angola will now have a regular supply of high-quality seeds, whilst researchers and breeders of genetic material will also be protected.
«It will enable us to clearly define what constitutes a variety, what hybrids are, what forms are, and what crosses are. All these categories used to classify the genetic material presented, including germplasm banks created for breeding purposes, will ensure that their creators are protected,» he emphasised.
With regard to veterinary services, the Economic Commission examined the Presidential Decree approving the Legal Framework Governing Fees and Charges payable for services provided by the Institute of Veterinary Services, including the issuance of licences for livestock farming and the prevention of livestock diseases.
According to the minister, national veterinary services currently operate as a form of public assistance, as the majority of livestock is owned by the population, particularly in southern Angola.
«There was a need to establish a health and protection service not only for animals but, first and foremost, for the protection of humans, mainly due to diseases transmissible from animals to humans,» he noted.
The minister emphasised that the focus of veterinary services had essentially been on conducting annual vaccination campaigns against the main endemic diseases, creating opportunities for the private sector to grow.
He highlighted that the livestock sector has grown, with greater demand for pets and increased animal movement across the country.
Given the government's investments in the control and movement of animals, as well as the zoning of the main communicable diseases, there is a need for «a framework of service charges that are affordable and acceptable to the market», he added.
NME/ADB // ADB.
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