National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Act, 2026

Exact source transcription retained, including print layout and extraction artifacts. Text SHA-256: 3dedf0653982bd2a2d63bf369ecc1e9dc8f7fdccbd83e7644e9cfc237d339e5a.

Page 1 of 23 
 
 
 
THE NATIONAL AGRI-TRADE AND FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY 
ACT, 2026 
 
 
  
                                                       
                                                             CONTENTS 
 
CHAPTER—1 
PRELIMINARY 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
CHAPTER II 
ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT 
3.  Establishment of the Authority 
4.  Board of Governors 
5.  Functions and powers of the Authority 
6.  Delegation 
7.  Meetings of the Board 
8.  Director General 
9.  Scientific Committee 
10.  Advisory Committees 
11.  Remuneration and expenses 
CHAPTER III 
FOOD SAFETY AND SPS MEASURES 
12.  Requirement to comply with the SPS measures 
13.  Inter-regional trade 
14.  Import and export of agricultural products, food, feed, animal and animal products 
 

 
Page 2 of 23 
 
15.  Appointment of authorized officers 
16.  Powers of authorized officers 
17.  Transparency 
CHAPTER-IV 
JURISDICTION, OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 
18.  Aiding or abetting and offence under section 20 
19.  Offences by companies, etc. 
20.  Offences 
21.  Penalties 
22.  Cognizance of offences 
23.  Disposal of forfeited goods 
24.  Complaint resolution committee 
25.  Appellate Committee 
26.  Bar of jurisdiction 
CHAPTER V 
COORDINATION WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS 
27.  Coordination with Provincial Governments 
28.  Emergency measures for ensuring SPS conditions 
CHAPTER-VI  
LABORATORY TESTING FACILITIES 
29.  Laboratory analysis of samples 
30.  Accreditation of testing laboratories 
CHAPTER—VII 
FUND AND AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS 
31.  The Fund 
32.  Audit 
CHAPTER—VIII 
General and Miscellaneous Provisions 
33.  Act to override other laws 
34.  Repeal and savings 
 
Page 3 of 23 
 
35.  Members, officers and officials, etc., to be public servants 
36.  Access to statistical data and information, etc. 
37.  Validity of proceedings 
38.  Abolishment of Departments 
39.  Transition period 
40.  Power to make rules 
41.  Power to make regulations 
42.  Confidentiality of data 
43.  Removal of difficulties 
  
 
Page 4 of 23 
 
THE NATIONAL AGRI-TRADE AND FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY ACT, 2026 
ACT No. IV OF 2026 
[19th December, 2025] 
AN 
ACT 
to establish the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority. 
  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 recognize d sanitary and 
phytosanitary 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; 
CHAPTER—1 
PRELIMINARY 
  1. Short title, extent and commencement. — (1) This Act shall be called the National Agri -
trade and Food Safety Authority Act, 2026. 
  (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
  (3) It shall come into force at once. 
  2. Definitions. — In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, — 
(i)  —adulterated pesticide l means a pesticide with which spurious, deleterious or 
harmful substance has been mixed or which is wholly or mainly ineffective for the 
purpose for which it is intended; 
(ii)  —Advisory Committeel means the committee constituted under section 10; 
(iii)  —Agricultural productl includes all produce of agriculture or horticulture, forest, 
and plants, all products of genetic sequencing information, single -cell proteins, 
and products of biotechnology intended for use food or feed and all good related 
to food or drink wholly or partly manufured from any such produce; 
(iv)  —agro-chemicals includes pesticides, growth regulators, pheromones, 
kairamones, growth inhibitors, at trants, repellents, rodenticides, miticides, 
excluding fertilizers or micro -nutrients, DNA based c hemicals used for 
traceability; 
(v)  —animal means a living thing that is not a human or plant; 
(vi)  —animal products means anything originating or made, whether in whole or in 
part, from an animal or from a carcass and includes blood. bones. bone marrow, 
casings, dairy products, eggs, honey. fat, foodstuffs of animal origi n, hair, hides, 
horns, hooves, hormones, and their bio logical preparations, offal, seed materials 
for research purposes, semen, ova and embryos, skin, tendons, viscera, wool and 
 
Page 5 of 23 
 
any other substance of animal origin excluding germinal products, biological 
products and pathological material as may be specified; 
(vii)  —Appellate Committee means the Committee constituted under this Act; 
(viii)  —Authority means the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) 
established under this Act; 
(ix)  —authorized officer means an officer nominated by the Authorit y under this Act 
for exercising powers and performing functions in accordance with the provisions 
of this Act and the rules and regulations made thereunder; 
(x)  —Board means the Board of Governors constituted under this Act; 
(xi)  —business operator means a natural or legal person registered with the Authority 
under this Act; 
(xii)  —certificate means the certificate of quality and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) 
compliance, animal health certificate, or any other certificate issued by the 
authorized offi cer to the business operator confirming compliance w ith the 
provisions of this Act; 
(xiii)  —Chairperson means Chairperson of the Board; 
(xiv)  —compartment means an animal sub -population contained in one or more 
premises under a common biosecurity management system with a distinct health 
status with respect to a specific animal disease or diseases for which surveillance, 
control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the  purpose of 
international trade; 
(xv)  —Complaint Resolution Committee  means the complaint resolution committee 
constituted under this Act; 
(xvi)  —crop includes all agricultural or horticultural crops and all trees, bushes, herbs, 
shrubs, grass, plants, roots, fungi and algae grown for commercial or recreational 
purposes; 
(xvii)  —Department means Animal Quarantine Department and Department of Plant 
Protection; 
(xviii)  —Director General means the director general of the Auth ority appointed under 
this Act; 
(xix)  —disease means suffering from or carrying any infections or contagious disease 
or such disease as may be declared by the Federal Government from time to time 
by notification in the official Gazette; 
(xx)  —feed means animal feed, including hay, roughage, concentrate or any other 
substance used for feeding animals; 
 
Page 6 of 23 
 
(xxi)  —formulation means the combination of various ingredients designed to render 
the product useful and effective for the purpose claimed and for the  envisaged 
mode of application. 
(xxii)  food means any substance, whether processed. semi-processed or raw, which is 
intended for human consumption and includes liquid and any substance which has 
been used in the manufacturing, preparation or treatment of food excluding 
(a)  medicinal products within the meaning of the Drug Regulatory Authority 
of Pakistan Act, 2012 (XXI of 2012); 
(b)  tobacco and tobacco products; and 
(c)  narcotic or psychotropic substances; 
(xxiii)  —food safety means safety measures taken by the Federal Government to ensure 
that food intended for export or import complies with applicable SPS standards; 
(xxiv)  —goods means agricultural product, agro -chernicals, animal, animal products, 
plant, fish, fish products, feed, food and pesticides; 
(xxv)  —grade designation means the grade designation prescribed as indicative of the 
quality of any product; 
(xxvi)  —grade designation mark- means a mark prescribed as representing a particular 
grade designation; 
(xxvii) —harmful organism l means any living stage of any or all insects, mites, 
nematodes, protozoa, slugs, snails, or other invertebrate animals, fungi, bacteria, 
parasitic plants, virus or reproductive parts thereof, or any pathogen. weed, rodent, 
or other plant and  animal organism which may, directly or indirectly, injure or 
cause disease to any plant or animal species; 
(xxviii) —hazard means a biological, chemical or physical agent including bio -identical 
or synthetic hormones with the potential to cause an adverse effect on food safety, 
animal health or plant health and includes bio-identical or synthetic hormones; 
(xxix)  —international standards, guidelines and recommendatio ns shall include, inter-
alia,— 
(a)  for food safety, the standards, guidelines and recommendations established 
by the Codex Alimentarius Commission; 
(b)  for animal hea lth and zoonoses, the standards.  guidelines and 
recommendations developed under the auspices of the World Organization 
for Animal Health (WOAH); 
(c)  for plant health, the  international st andards. guidelines and 
recommendations developed under the auspices of the Secretariat of the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in cooperation with 
regional organizations operating within the framework of the (IPPC); 
 
Page 7 of 23 
 
(d)  for testing laboratories, the general requirements for the competence of 
calibration and testing laboratories laid down in ISO Standard 17025 of 
the International Standards Organization; and 
(e)  for matters not covered above, appropriate standards, g uidelines, and 
recommendations adopted by other relevant international organizations; 
(xxx)  —invasive alien species  means plants, animals or other organisms that cause 
significant harm to the environment, economy human health, where those are not 
native; 
(xxxi)  —maximum residue limit  or —MRL means the ma ximum concentration of a 
residue that is legally permitted or recognized as  acceptable in or on a food or 
agricultural commodity or animal feedstuff; 
(xxxii)  —nominated department means department or any legal entity in the provinces 
nominated by the provincial Government; 
(xxxiii) —notifiable animal disease  means the animal diseases of national and 
international concern, that must be reported to the veterinary authority within a 
defined time frame when suspected by owners, vets or laboratories; 
(xxxiv) —official control  means programmes, processes, procedures or mechanisms 
developed by the Authority for the purpose of implementing the SPS measures 
and control of pathogenic agents, harmful organisms, pests, pesticides or diseases 
as prescribed under the regulations; 
(xxxv) —person means a natural or artificial person and may include a company, firm, 
association of persons, authority, or any other body corporate; 
(xxxvi) —pest means any species, strain or bio type of plant, animal or pathogenic agent 
injurious to plants and plant products, materials or environments and includes 
vectors of parasites or pathogens of human and animal disease and animals 
causing public health nuisance; 
(xxxvii) —pesticides means any substance or mixture of substances used or represented 
as a means for preventing, destroying, repelling, mitigating or controlling, directly 
or indirectly or any harmful organism; 
(xxxviii) —placed on the market  means the holding or di splaying for sale, offering for 
sale, selling, delivering or any other form of placing on the market, and retail and 
wholesale trade; 
(xxxix) —plant means all species of plants, crops, or parts thereof, whether living or dead, 
including stems, branches, tubers, bulbs, corns, stocks, bud-wood, cuttings, layers, 
slips, suckers, roots, aquatic algae, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds; 
(xl)  —points of entry and —points of exit mean any sea port, airport, dry-port or land 
routes respectively declared by the Federal Government designated for the import 
or export of any goods; 
 
Page 8 of 23 
 
(xli)  —prescribed means prescribed by rule or regulations made under this Act; 
(xlii)  —quality means conformity to prescribed requirement or specifi cation of a 
product or service; 
(xliii)  —quarantine facility means a site or premises provided or approved by the 
Authority for the isolation and examination of goods intended for import or export; 
(xliv)  —sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measure means measures to be prescribed by 
rules and implemented to— 
(a)  protect human life or health or environment from risks arising from 
harmful organisms carried by animals, plants or products based thereon, 
or from the entry, establishment or spread of harmful organisms including 
invasive alien species; 
(b)  protect animal or plant life or health from risks arising from the entry, 
establishment or spread of harmful organisms; 
(c)  protect human, animal or plant life or health from risks arising from 
additives, contaminants, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs. toxins 
or disease-causing organisms in food and feed; or 
(d)  prevent or limit other damage from the entry, establishment or spread of 
harmful organisms including alien invasive species via trade and 
commerce in products to which this Act applies. 
(xlv)  —Scientific Committee means the committee constituted under this Act; 
(xlvi)  —scientific advice means the advice rendered by the scientific committee based 
on scientific evidence and knowledge under this Act; 
(xlvii)  —sub-standard when used with reference to a pesticide, means any pesticide the 
strength or purity of which falls below the professed standard or quality which is 
expressed on its label or under which it is sold or a pesticide any valuable 
ingredient of which has been wholly or partially extracted; 
(xlviii)  —WOAH means —World Organization of Animal Health previously known as 
—Office International des Epizooties (OIE) an  
 intergovernmental organization and global authority on animal health. 
(xlix)  —zone means a defined part of a territory containing an animal subpopulation 
with a distinct health status with respect to a specific animal disease or diseases 
for which surveillance, control and biosecurity measures have been applied for the 
purpose of animal  disease prevention, control or eradi cation and international 
trade. 
 
 
 
Page 9 of 23 
 
CHAPTER II 
ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT 
 
  3. Establishment of the Authority . — (1) Upon the commencement of this Act, 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 Act. 
  (2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, 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. 
  (3) The headquarters of the Authority shall be at Islamabad and it may establish such other places 
in Pakistan as it may deem necessary. 
  4. Board of Governors. — (1) 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 the following members who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister 
for a term of three years, namely:— 
(a)  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; 
(b)  one representative each, not below the rank of Additional Secretary from division 
concerned with the affairs of national food security and research, climate change, 
commerce, science and technology and finance; 
(c)  two female members with expertise in food safety, food technology, public health, 
agronomy, or a related field; 
(d)  two members from academia or research organizations; and 
(e)  three members, one each from— 
(i)  plant related trading associations; 
(ii)  animal trading associations; and 
(iii)  the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). 
  (2) The Chairperson shall be a person known for his integrity and eminence having experience of 
not less than twelve years in any relevant field including food safety, food technology, public health, 
agronomy, animal health, trade and economics or a related field. 
  (3) The Director General of the Authority shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Board, having 
no right to vote, and shall act as the secretary of the Board. 
  (4) The members, other than ex-officio member, shall be appointed on such terms and conditions 
as may be determined by the Prime Minister. No person shall be appointed as a member of the Board for 
more than two consecutive term. 
 
Page 10 of 23 
 
  (5) The Chairperson or a member, other than the ex-officio members, may in writing addressed 
to the Prime Minister, resign from his office. 
  (6) The Prime Minister may remove the Chairperson or any member from office if they are found 
incapable of discharging their duties due to lack of interest, non -performance, or upon conviction by a 
court of law. 
  (7) The Chairperson or any member, other than an ex-officio member, shall be deemed to have 
vacated their office if they are absent without prior intimation to the Board from more than three 
consecutive meetings of the Board. 
  5. Functions and powers of the Authority .—(I) The Authority shall car ry out its functions, 
namely:— 
(i) 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;  
(ii)  adopt and administer all acts already taken by the Federal Government with regard 
to SPS measures in relation to imports, exports, and inter-regional trade of goods; 
(iii)  register any business operator if not already registered with any other authority or 
government entity in such manner as may be prescribed; 
(iv)  ensure compliance with SPS standards by business operators through a system of 
official controls, which it may carry out at any stage of preparation of goods meant 
for export; 
(v)  ensure compliance by business operators with track and trace or marking and 
grade designation requirements of goods; 
(vi)  register and regulate formulation plants in such manner as may be prescribed; 
(vii)  implement inspection and quarantine controls at points of entry and points of exit 
with regard to import and export of goods; 
(viii)  constitute sub-committees as required for carrying out the purposes of this Act; 
(ix)  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, a s 
per the prescribed mechanism; 
(x)  issuing and cancel registration or other cert ificates and licenses for activities 
requiring certificates or licenses under this Act; 
(xi)  supervising and monitoring business operators regarding SPS compliance, foo d 
safety and quality standards; 
(xii)  coordinate with Provincial Governments 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 Act; 
 
Page 11 of 23 
 
(xiii)  prepare and implement national crisis management plans for the control of risks 
regarding the application of SPS measures with the coordination of the relevant 
Provincial authorities on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed; 
(xiv)  nominate, notify or establish the accredited testing laboratories; 
(xv)  submit all mandatory or voluntary documentation or reporting to the international 
bodies, convention, associations or organizations; 
(xvi)  management and administration of biosecurity measures applied to zones and 
compartments for the purposes of export certification; 
(xvii)  conduct official veterinary diagnostic tests and analysis, issuance of test results 
and international veterinary certificates for the purposes of international 
notifications of notifiable animal diseases or the export of Goods; 
(xviii)  represent Pakistan in bilateral regional and international forums related to 
international trade in animals and animal products; 
(xix)  international coordination and market access negotiations for export and import 
of goods including animals and animal products; 
(xx)  protection of endangered areas and designation, maintenance and surveillance of 
pest free areas and areas of low pest prevelance. 
  (2) In performing its functions and exercising its powers as set out in sub -section (1), the 
Authority may— 
(i)  engage in any study or project relating to any matter under this Act and in 
conjunction with other authorities, international agencies or organizations; 
(ii)  levy such charges and fees for the performance of its functions in such manner as 
may be prescribed; 
(iii)  determine a service structure appropriate to the functions and appoint such officers 
and employees, advisors, consultants, experts or scientists as required necessary 
on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed; 
(iv)  approve annual budget estimates for the submission to the Federal Government; 
(v)  receive and manage property, income, grants, contributions made to it, raise loans 
and to invest any fund representing such property, grants, bequests, trusts, gifts, 
donations, endowments or contributions in accordance with applicable laws;  
(vi)  hold training programmes, national and international conferences, policy 
seminars, symposia, or awareness workshops or any other activity deemed 
necessary for promoting the SPS measures; 
(vii)  conduct studies, surveys, experiments and analysis of data for application of the 
SPS measures in international trade; 
 
Page 12 of 23 
 
(viii)  work to secure and sustain market access for goods governed under this Act, and 
ensuring their unrestricted and continuous  movement within domestic and 
international markets and approve digital transaction and guarantee for system 
generated certificate, as the case may be; 
(ix)  impose penalty or fines; and 
(x)  perform any other function and deal with matters and things that may be necessary 
or incidental thereto for the fulfilment of its functions under this Act or may be 
assigned to it by the Federal Government, from time to time. 
  (3) The Authority may entrust or outsource any of its functions to a person, authority, agen cy or 
company through a contract arrangement, on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed. 
  6. Delegation.—The Authority may delegate any of its powers and functions under this Act to 
the Director General or any authorized officer, except secti on 42, under this Act, subject to such 
conditions as may be prescribed. 
  7. Meetings of the Board. —(1) The Board shall meet quarterly or as often as is expedient to 
perform its functions or on the specific advice of the Federal Government. 
  (2) The Chairperson, and in his absence, any other member elected by the members present at a 
meeting, shall preside the meeting of the Authority. 
  (3) The quorum of a meeting of the Board shall be simple majority of the total membership, 
including the Chairperson and  a representative from the Ministry of Natio nal Food Security and 
Research. 
  (4) A meeting of the Authority shall be held in such manner as may be prescribed, and until so 
provided, as may be determined by the Authority. 
  (5) No act or proceeding of the Board or its committees shall be deemed invalid solely due to any 
vacancy or defect in their constitution. 
  8. Director General.—(1) The Federal Government shall, by notification in the official Gazette, 
appoint a person as Director General on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by rules, for a 
term of three years. The Director General may be reappointed for another term for three years. 
  (2) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority and shall be 
responsible for the day to day administration of the affairs of the Authority and shall exercise such powers 
and functions as may be prescribed or assigned to him by the Authority. 
  9. Scientific Committee.—(1) There shall be a scientific committee of the Authority which shall 
be responsible for rendering scientific or technical advice on matters referred by the Board or the Director 
General. 
  (2) The Board shall establish operational guidelines for the Scientific Committee. 
  (3) The scientific committee shall comprise of a minimum of fifteen (15) eminent scientists from 
the public and private sector who shall be appointed by the Authority for a term of three years on such 
terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 
 
Page 13 of 23 
 
  (4) The Authority shall appoint the convener of the scientific comm ittee from amongst its 
members. 
  (5) If a subject requiring advice from the Scientific Committee falls outside the expertise of its 
members, the Scientific Committee may recommend to the Board or the Director General that the matter 
be referred to any other committee established under this Act. 
  (6) The Board or the Director General, as the case may be, shall take into account the scientific 
advice, which shall be binding only with respect to the issues specifically referred by the Board. 
  (7) The Scientific Committee may, on its own initiative, provide technical or scientific advice to 
the Board or the Director General: 
  Provided that such advice shall not be binding on the Board or the Director General. 
  10. Advisory Committees. —(1) The Board shall establish as many Advisory committees as it 
deems appropriate for various trades and subjects and shall be responsible for improving the existing 
SPS standards, monitoring maximum residual limits (MRLs) of pesticides and other chemicals, assessing 
the storage and post-harvest losses, improvement in farm practeices, transportation, inter-regional trade 
of goods, providing training and awaren ess, provincial coordination or and carrying out any other 
functions as directed by the Authority. 
   (2) The Board shall establish the operational guidelines for the advisory committees. 
  (3) The advisory committee shall comprise of representatives of th e Federal and provincial 
governments, experts in the subject area and relevant stakeholders from public and private sector. 
  (4) The Board shall appoint the convener of the advisory committee from amongst its members. 
  11. Remuneration and expenses. —(1) The Authority shall pay such remuneration to the 
Director General and its employees as may be prescribed. 
  (2) The Authority shall pay such meeting fees, expenses or remuneration, as the case may be, as 
may be prescribed, to the Chairperson, members of the Board and the Committees, constituted under this 
Act. 
CHAPTER III 
FOOD SAFETY AND SPS MEASURES 
  12. Requirement to comply with the SPS measures.—The goods intended for import or export 
shall comply with the SPS measures under this Act as may be prescribed. 
  13. Inter-regional trade.—(1) The inter-regional trade in goods between provinces shall comply 
with the SPS and food safety standards. 
  (2) The Authority shall advise provinces to adopt uniform SPS measures and food safet y 
standards. 
  (3) The Authority shall notify provinces of risks associated with the regional movement of food, 
feed, or animals, as may be prescribed. 
 
Page 14 of 23 
 
  (4) Any dispute arising between provinces regarding compliance with SPS measures or food 
safety standards, or associated risks to human, plant, or animal health, shall be referred to the advisory 
committee for resolution and, if required so, to the Scientific Committee for technical advice. 
  14. Import and export of agricultural products, food, feed, anim al and animal products.— 
(1) Notwithstanding any provisions contained in this Act, the Authority shall have the power to 
recognize, assess, and notify SPS certificates. The Authority may, based on scientific advice, impose 
special conditions on any country  whose SPS measures are deemed unsatisfactory to safeguard plant, 
animal and human health within Pakistan. 
  (2) No goods shall be imported into Pakistan unless accompanied by a certificate issued by the 
relevant authority of the exporting country, certifying compliance with the SPS conditions notified under 
sub-section (1). 
  (3) All goods in transit through the territory of Pakistan for transportation to another destination 
shall be subject to the applicable SPS conditions. 
  (4) Transit of banned pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which are not regulated 
by the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) of Pakistan and unlicensed food or seeds, shall not be 
allowed. 
  15. Appointment of authorized officers. —(1) The Authority may appoint such number  of 
officers as authorized officers as may be necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act. 
  (2) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the regulations made thereunder, the Authority may 
confer the powers of the Authorized Officers, as may be prescribed, upon any officers of the Authority, 
Federal Government, Provincial Government or any other statutory entity established by the Fe deral or 
Provincial government. 
  16. Powers of authorized officers:—(1) Subject to provisions of this Act, the authorized officer 
may, — 
(a)  at any reasonable hour or whenever work is in progress in any establishment in 
which goods are believed to be produced, stored, processed or packaged for 
export, enter that establishment for the purposes of carrying out official controls 
so as to determine compliance with the SPS measures , animal health or food 
safety; 
(b)  inspect or examine goods in any establishment to which this Act applies, or which 
is used or capable of being used for the preparation of  goods for export purposes 
and shall take samples thereof for laboratory analysis; 
(c)  stop and search any person, luggage, vehicle, vessel, railway wagon, or aircraft at 
any point of entry or exit carrying goods subject to this Act, examine such goods 
and take samples thereof; 
(d)  require disinfection of any premises, aircraft, railway wagon, carriage, vessel or 
vehicle of any description used for carrying animals or animal products; 
 
Page 15 of 23 
 
(e)  inspect the goods for compliance with the prescribed  grade designa tion and 
marking; 
(f)  call for such books, documents or other records in any medium whatsoever which 
he believes to contain any information or data relevant to the enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act with respect to the goods, make copies thereo f and take 
extracts there from; 
(g)  seize or detain for such time, as may be necessary, the goods by means of, or in 
relation to which, he is of the opinion that the provisions of this Act have been 
contravened and shall, at the time of seizure or detention, inform, in writing, the 
business operator or the person from whose possession the seizure or detention is 
made, of the grounds for the said action; 
(h)  prohibit the export of animals which does not compliant to SPS measure or other  
specified conditions to carry; 
(i)  deport any animal or animal products, at the expense of the person importing such 
animal or animal product, the import of which is prohib ited by the Federal 
Government; 
(j)  transfer goods to a quarantine facility for such time period as may be prescribed; 
(k)  ensure that the prescribed conditions are followed in the quarantine facility; 
(1)  direct business operators or importer or exporter, as the case may be to conduct 
the prescribed tests, processes, or procedures on Goods and order their destruction 
if such tests confirm the presence of any harmful organism or disease; 
(m)  order disposal of clothing, fittings, fodder, harness, container or litter that may 
have been in contact with, or pertaining to, diseased animals or animal products; 
(n)  conduct survey of goods processing plants with a view to determine their fitness 
for registration and their observance with the provisions of this Act; 
(o)  seek assistance from a police officer or officer of any law enforcement agency for 
use of force that is reasonably necessary while carrying out hi s functions under 
this Act; and 
(p)  exercise any other function assigned to him by the Authority. 
  17. Transparency.—(1) The Authority may conduct consultative and stakeholder consultation 
compliance to international commitments and market access, during the preparation, evaluation and 
revision of SPS measures under this Act. 
  (2) Without prejudice to any other law for the time being in force, where there are reasonable 
grounds to suspect that Goods may present a risk for human health, animal health and plant health, then 
depending on the nature, seriousness and extent of that risk, the Authority shall take appropriate steps to 
inform the business operator and, if necessary, the general public, of the nature of the risk to human 
health, animal health, plant health or identifying to the fullest extent possible the risk that the Goods may 
present, and the measures which are taken or about to be taken to prevent, reduce or eliminate that risk. 
 
Page 16 of 23 
 
  (3) Without prejudice to any other law, the Authority shall prescribe internal accountability 
mechanism to prevent the misuse of funds, power or authority under this Act. 
CHAPTER-IV 
JURISDICTION, OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 
  18. Aiding or abetting and offence under section 20. —Any person who by any means 
whatsoever attempts or aid or abets the commission of an offence under section 20 shall be punishable 
with the same punishment as provided for the offence itself. 
  19. Offences by companies, etc. —Where an offence punishable under section 20 has been 
committed by a company, any person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and 
was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as any director 
or partner of the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded 
against and punished accordingly: 
  Provided that nothing contained in this section shal l render any such person liable to any 
punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or 
that he exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 
  20. Offences.—A person shall be guilty of an offence under this Act, if he— 
(i)  imports or causes the importation of any animal or animal product from a country 
or territory from where such import is banned or prohibited due to the presence or 
suspected presence, or risk of transmission of specified disease; 
(ii)  imports or exports any animal without a valid health certificate issued by the 
competent authority of the exporting country, or with a fake, forged, or fraudulent 
certificate; 
(iii)  imports, manufacteures, formulates, sells, offer for sell, hold in stock for sale, or 
advertise for sale an adulterated pesticide; 
(iv)  refuses to permit inspection of a formulation plant; 
(v)  supplies animal or animal product from, or process animal product in, any 
establishment or premises which  is not approved or registe red for that particular 
export; 
(vi)  denies to quarantine the animals as required under this  Act or regulations 
thereunder; 
(vii)  removes animal, animal products from a quarantine facility or shift the same to 
some other unapproved premises; 
(viii)  stores or process sub-standard pesticides or agrochemicals; 
(ix)  exports the animals and animal products without observing the sanitary 
requirements of the importing country; 
 
Page 17 of 23 
 
(x)  submits fake or forged lab reports, pre-shipment inspection report, manufacturing 
certificate, country of origin certificate regarding quantity, quality or type of 
goods; 
(xi)  fails to report any disease, pathogen associated with imported plant, plant material 
or animal in quarantine facility; 
(xii)  fails to submit report, data or any other documents required by the Authorize 
Officer about imported goods in quarantine facility; 
(xiii)  plants plant and plant material at unregistered quarantine facility; 
(xiv)  imports or store banned agrochemicals pesticides; 
(xv)  imports and stores hazardous pesticides without due precautions; 
(xvi)  denies to perform SPS measures or fulfill special conditions; 
(xvii)  willfully obstructs, hinders or resists the Authorized Officer from carrying  out a 
function under this Act; 
(xviii)  stores or process adulterated pesticides or agrochemicals; 
(xix)  wilfully obstructs, hinders or resists the police officer or officer of law enforcing 
agenies assisting the Authorized Officer, in carrying out a function under this Act; 
(xx)  imports, manufactures, formulates, sells, offers for sale, holds in stock for sale or 
advertises for sale an adulterated or banned pesticide; 
(xxi)  sells, offers to sale, stores or holds unregistered, fake, adulterated expired 
agrochemicals or pesticides in market; 
(xxii)  attempts to import or export without the required documents or attempting to 
import or export undeclared goods; 
(xxiii)  refuses to comply with special conditions of importing country; 
(xxiv)  imports any animal without declaring and registering a quarantine facility; 
(xxv)  sells or offers to sale agrochemicals and pesticides with incomplete label and seal 
of pesticide containers, bags or similar items; 
(xxvi)  wilfully conceals a fact, makes a false statement to, or misleads, the Authorized 
Officer who is carrying out a function under this Act or regulations; and 
(xxvii)  denies to show prescribed register, areas, stores, labs etc. 
  21. Penalties. —Whosoever contravene any provision of section 20, shall be in case  of 
contravention of clauses, — 
(i)  (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to three million rupees or 
with both and where an accused  was directed by the Authorized Officer for 
immediate discontinuance of the offence, the Court may impose a further fine 
 
Page 18 of 23 
 
which may extend to fifty thousand rupees for every day for the period the offence 
continues; 
(ii)  (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which 
may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two million rupees or 
with both and where an accused was directed by the authorized officer for 
immediate discontinuance of the of fence, the Court may impose a further fine 
which may extend to twenty five thousand rupees for every day for the period the 
offence continues; 
(iii)  (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv), (xvi), (xvii), (xviii), (xix), (xx) or (xxi) shall 
be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with 
fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both and where an accused 
was directed by the Authorized Officer for immediate discontinuance of the 
offence, the Court may impose a further fine which may extend to ten thousand 
rupees for every day for the period the offence continues; and 
(iv)  (xxii), (xxiii), (xxiv), (xxv), (xxvi) or (xxvii) shall be liable to pay fine which may 
extend to five hundred thousand rupees and where an accused was directed by the 
authorized officer for immediate discontinuance of the offence, the Court may 
impose a further fine which may extend to one thousand rupees for every day for 
the period the offence continues. 
  22. Cognizance of offences.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal 
Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), the Court of Sessions shall take cognizance of any offence punishable 
under section 20, on a complaint in writing made by the Director General or an Authorized Officer. 
  (2) For the purposes of trial appeal etc. the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act 
V of 1898) shall mutatis mutandis apply. 
  23. Disposal of forfeited goods. —Any goods forfeited on conviction of a person by the Court 
under this Act shall be disposed of by the Authority at the cost of the convicted person or business 
operator as the case may be, in the prescribe manner. 
  24. Complaint resolution committee.—(1) The Authority shall constitute a complaint resolution 
committee and establ ish a mechanism for the redressal of complaints arising from the refusal of 
registrations or licenses or certificates by the Authority, or any other matters as may be prescribed. 
  (2) The Authority shall prescribe the proce dure and related matters concern ing the complaint 
resolution committee. 
  (3) Any person or business operator feeling aggrieved of any order of the Authority or the 
Authorized Officer under this Act, may file application within thirty days for redressal of his grievances 
before the complaint resolution committee in the prescribed manner. 
  25. Appellate Committee .—(1) The Authority shall constitute an appellate committee and 
prescribe a mechanism for redressal of all appeals against the decisions of the complaint resolution 
committee. 
 
Page 19 of 23 
 
  (2) Any person or business operator aggrieved by any decision of the complaint resolution 
committee may file an appeal within thirty days of passing of such order before the appellate committee. 
  26. Bar of jurisdiction.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 
in force and except as provided under this Act, no decision or action taken under this Act or rules or 
regulations made thereunder shall be questioned by any agency or challenged in any court or tribunal, 
nor shall any injunction be granted against such decisions or actions. 
CHAPTER V 
COORDINATION WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS 
  27. Coordination with Provincial Governments. —The Authority shall,— 
(a)  require the nominated department of provincial governments to prepare an annual 
programme of official control activities in relation to matters falling within the 
jurisdiction of the department as set out in sub-section (1) of section 5 and submit 
the same to the Authority, specifying, — 
(i)  the type of control activities to be carried out; and 
(ii)  the criteria applied in drawing up the programme; 
(b)  communicate policy guidelines and policy decisions made or taken by the Board 
for their compliance in t he respective provinces relating to the SPS measures, 
animal health, pesticide regulation and food safety. 
(c)  publish model regulations, guidelines and manuals with regard to the application 
of the SPS measures to be adopted by Provincial Governments; and 
(d)  facilitate harmonization of provincial laws, rules and regulations relating to the 
SPS measures required for obtaining and sustaining market access. 
                                        EMERGENCIES AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT 
  28. Emergency measures for ensuring SPS conditions.—(1) Where the nominated department 
of provincial government knowing that any goods are likely to constitute a serious risk to human health, 
animal health or plant health and that such risk cannot be contained satisfactarily by means of measures 
taken under the provisions of this Act, or other laws for the time being in force, the nominated department 
shall immediately adopt one or more of the following measures, depending on the gravity of the situation 
  (a)  in the case of goods of national origin 
(i)  ensure the suspension of the placing on the market or use of the agricultural 
product, food or feed in question; 
(ii)  lay down special conditions for the agricultural pro duct, food or feed in 
question; 
(iii)  use its best endeavors to identify the source of  the hazard, and take 
measures to prevent its future occurrence; 
(iv)  any other appropriate interim measure; and 
 
Page 20 of 23 
 
 (v)  inform the Authority about the measures taken in this regard; and 
   (b)  in the case of imported goods, the Authority may take additional measures to— 
(i)  inform the relevant authorities in the country of origin or transit 
responsible for official control of the hazard identified; 
(ii)  ensure the suspension of the placing on the market or use of that goods; 
(iii) suspend import of that goods from the country concerned and, where 
applicable, from the country of transit; 
(iv)  lay down special conditions for the future import of that goods from the 
country concerned; and 
(v)  any other measure deemed appropriate. 
  (2) The actions taken under sub-section (1) shall be subject to— 
(a)  approval of the Board; 
(b)  information to the nominated department of Provincial Governments; 
(c)  information to the business operators; and 
(d)  information to such other department including the Customs Department. 
CHAPTER—VI  
LABORATORY TESTING FACILITIES 
  29. Laboratory analysis of samples. —(1) The samples collected for analysis under section 16 
for the purpose of official control, testing of agrochemicals, animal diseases, food safety and SPS 
measures shall be analyzed by a testing laboratory notified under this section. 
  (2) The Authority may notify any accredited testing laboratory established in the private or public 
sector, a university laboratory, a research organization laboratory, or a laboratory established by the 
Federal or Provincial Government for conducting all tests including for official control of SPS conditions. 
  (3) The Authority may es tablish testing laboratories or recognize any existing laboratory where 
it is expedient to perform the functions under this Act. 
  (4) The Authority shall maintain and publish in the official Gazette the list of testing laboratories 
notified under this section. 
  (5) The samples collected under section 16 for the purpose of official control of food safety, 
animal, pesticides or SPS conditions etc., shall be transmitted to the notified laboratory by the authorized 
officer that shall carry out its functions on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 
  30. Accreditation of testing laboratories. —(1) All testing laboratories designated for official 
controls, food safety, SPS conditions, and agrochemical testing shall adhere to the general requirements 
for competence of calibration and testing laboratories as prescribed in the latest ISO Standard of the 
International Standards Organization, or any superseding standard. Such competence shall be accredited 
by the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) or any accreditation body that is a signatory to 
 
Page 21 of 23 
 
the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement 
(MRA) for the purpose of conducting sample analysis. 
  (2) The laboratories shall only be notified for the testin g methods and parameters, which are 
within the scope of their accreditation. 
CHAPTER—VII 
FUND AND AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS 
  31. The Fund. —(1) There shall be a non -lapsable fund of Authority to be called as National 
Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Fund, which shall be utilized for the performance of its functions 
under this Act, including the payment of remuneration, salaries, and all other expenses of the Authority. 
  (2) The Fund shall consist of,— 
(a)  seed money provided by the Federal Government; 
(b)  sums as the Federal Government may, from time to time, allocate to the Authority 
in the annual budget or otherwise; 
(c)  any financial allocation made by the F ederal Government from any fund or 
revenue received in relation to the promotion of exports, such as the Export 
Development Fund or from imports; 
(d)  endowments, donations, contributions, bequests, trusts and grants provided by 
domestic and international institutions and organizations; 
(e)  loans, aid and assistance in any form and from any sourc e as approved by the 
Board; 
(f)  income from sales, subscriptions or royalties of publications and remuneration for 
professional services rendered by the officers, researchers, advisors and experts of 
the Authority; 
(g)  charges and fees levied for, and the fine received under, the performance of control 
functions; 
(h)  income from investments, if any, made in the schemes of the Federal Government 
as approved by the Board; 
(i)  all other sums or properties which may in any manner become payable to, or vest 
in the Authority, in respect of any matter; and 
(j)  any surplus of receipts over the actual expenditure in a year shall be remitted to 
the Federal Consolidated Fu nd and any deficit from the actual expenditure shall 
be made-up by the Federal Government. 
  (3) Subject to the Public Finance Management Act, 2019 all funds of the Authority shall be kept 
and deposited in one or more accounts maintained by it, in local or  foreign currency, in any scheduled 
bank and shall be operated as approved and directed by the Board. 
 
Page 22 of 23 
 
  32. Audit .—(1) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit  the accounts of the 
Authority. 
  (2) The Government may, in addition to the audit under sub-section (1), cause the accounts of the 
Authority to be annually audited by a Chartered Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants and, at 
any time, appoint a Chartered Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants, to conduct an addition al 
external audit of the accounts of the Authority and submit its report to the Government 
  (3) The Authority shall produce all books of accounts and documents and furnish such 
explanation and information as an auditor may require for purposes of audit. 
CHAPTER—VIII 
General and Miscellaneous Provisions 
  33. Act to override other laws. —The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding 
anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force. In case of any 
inconsistency, the provisions of this Act shall prevail. 
  34. Repeal and savings. —(1) After the commencement of this Act, the following laws shall 
stand repealed on such date the Federal Government may by notification in the official Gazette appoint, 
namely:— 
(i)  the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act, 1976 (LXXV of 1976); 
(ii) the Pakistan Animal Quarantine (Import and Export of Animals and Animal 
Products) Ordinance, 1979 (XLIX of 1979); 
(iii)  the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971 (II of 1971); and 
(iv)  the Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937 (I of 1937). 
  (2) The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify the law which 
is required to be repealed under sub-section (1) from the date specified in the notification 
  (3) Anything done, action taken, permitted, granted licence or applications made, obligations or 
liabilities incurred, rights and assets acquired, persons appointed or authorised, jurisdiction or powers 
conferred, order issued under any of the provisions of the repealed laws and the rules or regulations made 
thereunder shall continue and be deemed to be as if that were taken or provided under this Act unless 
repealed or amended. 
  35. Members, officers and officials, etc., to be public servants .—The Chairperson, Director 
General, members, officers, of the Authority shall, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any 
of the provisions of this Act or regulations made thereunder, be deemed to be public servants within the 
meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860). 
  36. Access to statistical data and information, etc.  — Notwithstanding anything contained in 
any other law for the time being in force, the Authority shall have the right to obtain and access data, 
statistic and information relating to imports and exports of goods based thereon from a business operator 
that may be necessary, as for official use and analysis. 
 
Page 23 of 23 
 
  37. Validity of proceedings.—No act or proceedings shall be invalid by reason only of existence 
of a vacancy, or defect, in the constitution of the Authority, Board, scientific c ommittee or advisory 
committee: 
  Provided that the invalidity shall be validated within six months by the Board or th e Committee 
as the case may be. 
  38. Abolishment of Departments. —(1) On the appointed date under section 34, the Animal 
Quarantine Department and the Department of Plant Protection shall stand abolished. 
  (2) 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 Government. 
  (3) Every employee of the departments specified in sub -section (1) shall stand transferred to the 
surplus pool of the Establishment Division. 
  39. Transition period. —The trade -related function s 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 reg ulations and 
appoint employees. 
  40. Power to make rules.—Subject to this Act, the Federal Government may, by notification in 
the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
  41. Power to make regulations. —The Authority with the previous approval of the Federal 
Government may by notification in the official Gazette make regulations for carryin g out the purposes 
of this Act. 
  42. Confidentiality of data. —(1) Subject to the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 
(XXXIV of 2017), no information rel ating to any business operator, obtained by the Authority in the 
course of official controls under this Act, shall be disclosed without the prior written consent of the 
business operator, except— 
(a)  in accordance with the directions of the Board, to the extent necessary for the 
purposes of this Act; 
(b)  for the purposes of any proceedings for an offence under this Act, or for any report 
of such proceedings; or 
(c)  in compliance with an order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 
  (2) Any person who discloses information in contravention of sub -section (1) shall be liable for 
proceedings of misconduct in accordance with the provisions of this Act or regulations made thereunder. 
  43. Removal of difficulties. —If a difficulty arises in giving effect to any  provision of this Act, 
the Federal Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may 
appear to it to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of the removal of such difficulty: 
  Provided that the power under this section shall not be exercised after two years of the 
commencement of this Act.                                                                                      RGN Date: 04-02-2026