OCPD commended as Bunge passes agri-law amendments

DODOMA: Minister for Agriculture Daniel Chongolo has commended the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman and his team at the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman (OCPD) for their role in successfully drafting the Agricultural Laws (Amendments) Bill, 2026, which was unanimously passed by lawmakers in Dodoma on Thursday afternoon.

Presenting the Bill in the National Assembly on Thursday morning, Minister Chongolo said the laws targeted for amendment were the Food Security Act, Cap. 249; the Sisal Industry Act, Cap. 30; the Sugar Industry Act, Cap. 251; and the Tea Industry Act, Cap. 275.

“Similarly, I congratulate the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman and all staff of the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman (OCPD) for successfully and efficiently preparing this Bill on time,” Minister Chongolo said.

He also acknowledged the contribution of all staff at the Office of the Attorney General for their continued effective execution of the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Attorney General.

In his presentation, the minister said the Bill was divided into five parts, with Part One dealing with preliminary provisions, including the title of the Bill and the manner in which various provisions of the laws are proposed to be amended in their respective sections.

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Mr Chongolo added that Part Two of the Bill proposes amendments to the Food Security Act, Cap. 249. The Act was enacted in 1991 to regulate the production, processing and marketing of cereals and mixed crops, establish a national food security assurance system and provide for other related matters.

According to the Minister, the Act has been amended twice, in 2009 and 2023 and the the proposed amendments were intended to empower the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority to perform functions previously carried out by the Tanzania Pareto Board and to deal with related matters in the industry.

“Section 2 is proposed to be amended to improve the definitions of the terms ‘other produce’ and ‘food commodities’ by providing definitions for terms used in the Act but which had not previously been defined. The purpose of the proposed amendment is to provide greater clarity on the meaning of these terms as used in the Act.

“Section 4 is proposed to be amended to enable the Cereals and Other Produce Regulatory Authority to perform functions previously carried out by the Tanzania Pyrethrum Board and to give the Authority the legal mandate to regulate the entry into and exit from the country of products derived from cereals and other produce without affecting the laws governing product quality and standards in the country. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to improve efficiency in regulating the pyrethrum industry,” the Minister noted.