Page 1 of 4 THE INSPECTION AGENCIES (REGISTRATION AND REGULATION) ORDINANCE, 1981 CONTENTS 1. Short title, extent and commencement 2. Definitions 3. Appointment of Authority 4. Constitution of the Council, etc. 5. Prohibition of inspection by an unregistered firm. 6. Registration of companies, etc. 7. Penalties 8. Provisions of the Ordinance and the rules to override other enactments 9. Delegation of powers 10. Power to make rules Page 2 of 4 THE INSPECTION AGENCIES (REGISTRATION AND REGULATION) ORDINANCE, 1981 ORDINANCE No. XXXVII OF 1981 [25th November, 1981] An Ordinance to control and regulate the business in relation to pre-shipment inspection of goods exported out of or imported into, Pakistan. WHEREAS it is expedient to control and regul ate the busi ness in relation to pre -shipment inspection of goods exported out of, or imported into, Pakistan and for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto; AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessar y to take immediate action; NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of the fifth day of July, 1977, read with the Provisional Constitution Order, 1981 (C. M. L. A. Order No. 1 of 1981), the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:— 1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Ordinance may be called the , 1981. (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. (3) It shall come into force on such 1date as the Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint. 2. Definitions. In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— (a) “Authority” means the Authority appointed under section 3 ; (b) “buyer”, in relation to goods exported out of Pakistan, means a person, company or organisation outside Pakistan who or which has agreed to purchase and import any goods from Pakistan, and, in relation to goods imported into Pakistan, a person, company or organisation in Pakistan registered under the Order ; (c) “certificate of inspection ” means a certificate issued after inspection in the prescribed manner ; (d) “Council” means the Pakistan Pre -shipment Inspection Council cons tituted under section 4 ; 1 i.e., on the 5th January, 1982, by S.R.O. 5(I)/82, dated the 5-1-1982, see Gaz., of P., 1982, Ext., Part II, p. 5. Page 3 of 4 (e) “inspection”, in relation to any goods, means the process of determin ing by scientific methods of sampling, analysis and testing whether a b atch or lot of goods conforms to— (a) a standard specification applicable to that class of goods laid down by or under any law, or (b) specifications stipulated in the contract of sale provided it does not come in conflict with the specific ation laid down by or under any law, or (c) a sample or samples of that class of goods agreed upon between the seller and the buyer and bearing their signature, initials or any other distinguishing marks ; (f) “Order” means the Registration (Importers and Exporters) Order, 1952, made under section 3 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 (XXXIX of 1950) ; (g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules ; (h) “registration” means registration under this Ordinance and “registered” shall be construed accordingly ; (i) “rules” means rules made under this Ordinance ; and (j) “seller”, in relation to goods exported out of Pakistan, means an exporter registered under the Orde r, and, in relation to goods imported into Pakistan, a person, company or organization supplying goods from outside Pakistan. 3. Appointment of Authority. The Federal Government may, by noti fication in the official Gazette, appoint an Authority for the purpose of registering companies. 4. Constitution of the Council, et c.—(1) The Fe deral Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, constitute a Council to be known as the Pakistan Pre -shipment Inspection Council consisting of such number of members as the Federal Government may determine. (2) The Council sha ll render to the Authority such technical assistance in relation to the execution of the provisions of this Ordinance as may be required of it. 5. Prohibition of inspection by an unregistered firm .—No company, organisation or institution, including a fo reign company , hereinafter referred to as company, which ha s not been registered with the a uthority, shall carry on the business of inspection or issue a certificate of inspection. 6. Registration of companies, etc .—(1) Every company carrying on the busi ness of inspection at the commencement of this Ordinance shall , within three months of such commencement, and every company desiring to com mence such business after such commencement 1[or within such further time as the Authority may allow] shall, before commencing business, apply to the Authority for registration on payment of such fee as may be prescribed. Page 4 of 4 (2) No company shall be registered unless it conforms to the prescribed conditions of registration. 7. Penalties. —Whoever contravenes the provis ions of secti on 5 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. 8. Provisions of the Ordinance and the rules to override other enactments. —(1) The provisions of this Ordinance and the rules shall have e ffect in relation to goods exported out of, or imported into, Pakistan notwithstanding any pro visions relating to quality control or buyer’s acceptance inspection prior to the export of such goods contained in any other law for the time being in force or in any instrument having effect by virtue of any such law. (2) All contracts embodying specification of goods signed before the commencement of this Ordinance shall remain valid and shall be fulfilled as such. (3) If the rules are amende d so as to ma ke any changes in the standard specification of any goods, the changes so mad e shall not affect the contracts made in accordance with the standard specifications existing prior to the changes. 9. Delegation of powers. —The Federal Government may, by notif ication in the official Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under this Ordi nance or the rules shall, in relation to such matters and subject to such condi tions, if any, as may be specified in the notification, be exercisable also by the Coun cil or such officer or organisation subordinate to it as may be specified in the notification. 10. Power to make rules. —(1) The Federal Government may, by notifica tion in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for— (a) the procedure of applying for registration; (b) the conditions of registration ; (c) the fee to be charged for registration ; (d) an appellate authority to hear appeal against refusal to register a company ; (e) the procedure of meetings of the Council ; (f) the method of consultation with the Council ; (g) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed. (3) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall, except on the first occasion of the exercise thereof, be subject to the condition of consultation with the Council. 1 Ins. by the Inspection Agencies (Registration and Regulation) (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1982 (29 of 1982), s. 2.