This report presents a summary of variety testing and release regulations in DTMA project countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In order to understand these approaches a study was undertaken in 2007 under the auspices of the Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa (DTMA) project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF). The objectives of the study were to: Define the time taken to release elite maize varieties. Summarize the variety release requirements and procedures in DTMA countries in SSA. Identify constraints hampering the release of elite maize varieties to smallholder farmers. Propose strategies to hasten the release of new maize varieties. The study covered all the DTMA project countries: Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Malawi, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. South Africa was included as a reference point because it is considered to have the most advanced and liberal seed system in SSA. The data for the study were collected in 2007/2008 through a survey of 13 selected national seed authorities (NSA). The questionnaire for the survey was sent out to the NSAs followed by discussions with agricultural researchers, and the revision of published information on variety release guidelines and procedures for each country. The data were also complemented by information from national variety release catalogues wherever possible.vi, 32 pages