Federal government: ministries and agencies
Somali Agricultural Regulatory and Inspection Service (SARIS): seeds, pesticides and fertiliser
The Somali Agricultural Regulatory and Inspection Service checks seeds, pesticides, fertiliser and plant health. It was set up under SARIS Law No. 32 of December 2024 and works under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Since its laboratory opened, imported seeds and pesticides need its clearance, and in November 2026 it said it would test chemicals used to ripen bananas.
What it does
The SARIS Law, Law No. 32 of December 2024, sets up a legal framework for inspecting and controlling agricultural chemicals, seeds and plant varieties in Somalia. It makes SARIS the central authority for monitoring plant safety, regulating agricultural chemicals and checking the quality of seeds and fertiliser (UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform, from FAOLEX).
A separate agricultural chemicals law, No. 33 of 2024, requires importers and traders to register any new product with SARIS before it reaches the market (Dawan Africa, 4 November 2026). The Ministry of Agriculture reports that SARIS runs FertiTrack, a digital system for tracking fertiliser (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, newsletter, August 2026).
Who leads it
Abdi Mohamed Hussein was listed as interim director of SARIS in January 2024 (FAO Plant Treaty). The Ministry of Agriculture reported that the SARIS board of directors held its first meeting in October 2026 (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation).
The laboratory and the import rule
Agriculture Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareeye opened a new SARIS laboratory complex in Mogadishu. It has units to test the quality, safety and environmental effects of pesticides, and to check that seeds are free of disease and suited to Somali conditions. At the opening he announced that importing seeds or pesticides without SARIS clearance would be a crime (SONNA; Dawan Africa).
The money
In the federal Appropriation Act for 2027 as submitted to parliament, SARIS is sub-head 030301 under the Ministry of Agriculture, with US$36,000 in 2026 and US$36,000 proposed for 2027, and no 2025 spending recorded (Ministry of Finance, Appropriation Act 2027).
What it reports doing in 2026
On 3 November 2026 SARIS said reports had circulated on social media about two products, Ethar Plus and Ethephon 40% SL, being used to ripen bananas. It said ripening after harvest is allowed with approved substances used as labelled, that it would test the identity of the substances people had complained about, and that anyone endangering public health would face legal action. The minister visited the fruit section of Bakara market (Dawan Africa, 4 November 2026).
How the work is shared
SARIS sits under the Ministry of Agriculture. Food sold in markets is also inspected by the Somali Bureau of Standards.
Sources
- UNEP Law and Environment Assistance Platform, from FAOLEX · leap.unep.org
- Dawan Africa, 4 November 2026 · dawan.africa
- Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, newsletter, August 2026 · moa.gov.so
- FAO Plant Treaty · fao.org
- Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation · moa.gov.so
- SONNA · sonna.so
- Dawan Africa · dawan.africa
- Ministry of Finance, Appropriation Act 2027 · mof.gov.so
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Where this matters
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