Federal govt decides to establish National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority

ISLAMABAD  –  The federal government has decided to establish the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) with the objective to regulate the quality aspects of agrochemicals, agricultural produce, plants, animals, and products. President Asif Ali Zardari promulgated ordinance related to the establishment of the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority.

Following the establishment of the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority, the Animal Quarantine Department and the Department of Plant Protection shall stand abolished, read the ordinance. Upon the commencement of this Ordinance, there shall be established an authority to be known as the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance, it reads. The Authority shall be a body having perpetual succession and a common seal with power, to enter into contracts, acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to sue and be sued in its name. The headquarters of the Authority shall be at Islamabad and it may establish such other places in Pakistan as it may deem necessary.

“Whereas, it is expedient to regulate the quality aspects of agrochemicals, agricultural produce, plants, animals, and products based thereon used as food, feed or otherwise being exported to or imported from other countries in accordance with the recognized sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures or quality standards and to facilitate international trade and inter-provincial trade thereof on competitive basis in the light of domestic needs and international commitments”.

The Authority shall carry out its functions, namely: develop, apply and achieve compliance with SPS measures in relation to import, export and inter-regional trade of goods taking into account international standards, guidelines and recommendations; register any business operator if not already registered; register and regulate formulation plants in such manner as may be prescribed; implement inspection and quarantine controls at points of entry and points of exit with regard to import and export of goods; regulate, prohibit and restrict the import or export of goods likely to introduce harmful organism, invasive species, or diseases to any other goods or humans, as per the prescribed mechanism; issuing and cancel registration or other certificates and licenses for activities requiring certificates or licenses under this Ordinance; coordinate with provincial govts to implement SPS measures for the production, transportation, storage, and marketing of goods intended for export from Pakistan, as well as for related purposes under this Ordinance; prepare and implement national crisis management plans for the control of risks regarding the application of SPS measures; impose penalty or fines etc.

The ordinance also called for setting up Board of Governors, the general superintendence, policy direction. oversight, and all matters pertaining to the policy and administration of the Authority shall vest in the Board. The Board shall consist of a chairperson and members who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister for a term of three years. The BoG shall have six members who are secretaries of the department concerned with the affairs of Agriculture or livestock Departments in the Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan; one representative each, not below the rank of Additional Secretary from division concerned; two female members with expertise in food safety, food technology, public health, agronomy, or a related field; two members from academia or research organizations; and three members, one each from plant related trading associations; animal trading associations; and  the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). On the appointed date, the Animal Quarantine Department and the Department of Plant Protection shall stand abolished. On the appointed date all assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, patents, licenses, and interests of the departments shall stand transferred to the Authority upon its establishment, subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified by the federal govt.

Every employee of the departments specified in sub-section (1) shall be given an irrevocable option, within six months of commencement of this Ordinance, either to continue on the same terms and conditions applicable to them or to opt for absorption in the service of the Authority: Provided that all those civil servants who do not exercise option under this sub-section within the period of six months shall stand transferred to the surplus pool of the Establishment Division and other employees shall continue on the existing terms and conditions in the Authority and if their contract is still intact it shall not be subject to extension further. The trade-related functions performed by the Department of Plant Protection and the Animal Quarantine Department shall continue for a period not exceeding six months from the appointed date under section 34, during which the Authority shall make its regulations and appoint employees.

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