PUNJAB AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRUG AUTHORITY ACT 2016

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THE PUNJAB AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRUG 
AUTHORITY ACT 2016 
(XXXII of 2016) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. The Authority 
4. Disqualification of the members 
5. Functions 
6. Allocation of laboratories 
7. Director General 
8. Experts 
9. Expert opinion 
10. Clarification of opinion 
11. Re-examination of samples 
12. Fund 
13. Bank account 
14. Budget and accounts 
15. Audit 
16. Appointment of employees 
17. Public servants 
18. Delegation of powers 
19. Conflict of interest 
20. Offence 
21. Appeal 
22. Recovery of dues 
23. Annual performance report 
24. Monitoring and evaluation 
25. Other laws 
26. Rules 
27. Regulations 
28. Repeal 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRUG AUTHORITY ACT 2016 
(XXXII of 2016) 
[24 May 2016] 
An 
Act 
to establish the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority for forensic examination 
and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food and drug. 
 The Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority  is being established f or 
forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food and drug; to render an 
expert opinion in respect of the ingredients and quality of fertilizer, pesticide, food or 
drug; and, to deal with other related matters.  
Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Act 2016. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act: 
(a) “Authority” means the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority  
established under section 3 of the Act; 
2[(aa) “alternative medicine” means any preparation, substance, or system of 
therapy and healing including but not limited to home opathic, herbal, 
ayurvedic, siddha, unani, naturopathic, or traditional medicine, health -
enhancing product and phytomedicine which has been derived from 
plant, animal or mineral ingredient alone or its combination, intended 
for human use and claiming thera peutic effect but does not contain 
chemically defined synthetic ingredient; 
(ab) “animal feed ” means any ingredient, mixture, or product prepared or 
intended to be fed to animals such as livestock or poultry, whether 
domesticated or captive, including feed  ingredient, compound feed, 
feed additive, premix, concentrate, or carrier with nutrient substance 
and includes any substance used for promoting animal health, growth, 
or productivity through ingestion by the animal; 
(ac) “biological medicine ” includes med icinal product whose active 
substance is biological in origin and is produced from living organism, 
cell, or tissue, or produced by biotechnology method including but not 
limited to vaccine, blood -derived product, gene therapy, cell therapy, 
                                                
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 18 May 2016; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 
23 May 2016; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 24 May 2016, pp. 5485-5492. 
2Inserted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Am endment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(a). 
recombinant protein, monoclonal antibody, and which requires special 
consideration for manufacturing, testing , and release beyond those 
applicable to chemically synthesised substance; 
(ad) “biomedical device ” includes any instrument, apparatus, implement, 
machine, implant, reagent, software, material or other similar or related 
article, whether used alone or in combination, intended by its 
manufacturer principally for human being or animal for one or more of 
the following specific medical purposes:  
(i) diagnosis, preven tion, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of a 
disease; 
(ii) investigation, replacement, modification or support of the anatomy 
or of a physiological process;  
(iii) supporting or sustaining life and which does not primarily achieve 
its principal intended action by pharmacological, immunological or 
metabolic means, though it may be assisted in its function by  
such means  or any other item which the Government may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, declare as biomedical device;] 
(b) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898);  
3[(ba) “cosmetics” includes any substance or mixture of substances, 
manufactured, sold or represented to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or 
sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to, the human body or 
any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or 
altering the appearance, and includes any article intended for use as a 
component of a cosmetic but does not include a soap;] 
(c) “concerned authority” includes an officer of the Gov ernment or a police 
officer holding an inquiry or investigation; 
(d) “Director General” means Director General of the Authority; 
(e) “drug” means the drug as defined in the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 
1976) and includes any material purported to be a drug; 
(f) “employee” includes an expert, officer or official of the Authority; 
(g) “expert” includes a foreign expert working in a forensic science facility 
and whose evidence is admissible in the country of his origin; 
(h) “fertilizer” means the fertilizer as def ined in the Punjab Fertilizers 
(Control) Order, 1973 (VII of 1973) and includes any material purported 
to be fertilizer; 
(i) “food” means the food as defined in the Punjab Food Authority Act 
2011 (XVI of 2011) or the Punjab Pure Food Ordinance , 1960 (VII of 
1960) and includes any material purported to be food; 
(j) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(k) “member” means a member of the Authority and includes the 
Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Authority; 
(l) “offence” means an act or omission made punishable under any law; 
                                                
3Inserted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(b). 
 
4[(la) “orthopaedic implant” means any biomedical device that is intended to 
be placed into, or fixed onto human bone or join t tissue for the 
purpose of supporting, reinforcing or substituting bone, joints or 
related connect ive tissue and includes plates, screw, intramedullary 
nail, joint prostheses, fixation device, spinal implant , and other similar 
article;] 
 (m) “pesticide” means the pesticide as defined in the Agricultural Pesticides 
Ordinance, 1971 (II of 1971) and includes any material purported to be 
pesticide; 
(n) “police officer” means a police officer appointed under the Police Order, 
2002 (22 of 2002), or any other person exercising the powers of a 
police officer under any other law; 5[***] 
(o) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations6[;] 
7[(oa) “raw material” means any substance, material, or component, whether 
natural, processed, or partly processed, used in manufacturing, 
processing, formulation, or preparation of a product, whether food, 
drug, me dical device, cosmetics, animal feed, fertilizer, or any other 
regulated goods, and which may affect the quality, safety, or fitness for 
use of the finished product; 
(ob) “soil” means the upper layer of the earth‟s crust comprising mineral 
particles, organic matter, water, air, and living organism which serves 
as natural medium for growth of a plant, supports terrestrial ecosystem, 
and acts as a reservoir for water and nutrient and includes agricultural, 
horticultural, and forest soil whether in natural, cu ltivated, or modified 
form; and 
(oc) “water contamination ” means the presence in surface water or 
groundwater including irrigation water, drinking water or industrial 
discharge receiving water of chemical, biological or physical 
substance, element or compo und at concentration above permissible 
limit under provincial or national water quality standards or which may 
pose a risk to human health, animal health, environment or agricultural 
productivity.] 
(2) A word or an expression used in th e Act and not defined s hall mean 
the same as in the Code. 
3. The Authority .– (1) The Government shall, by notification, establish an 
Authority to be called `the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority‟. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession  
and a common seal, with power to enter into contracts, acquire or dispose of 
property, and may, by the said name, sue or be sued. 
                                                
4Inserted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026);  and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(c). 
5Omitted for the word "and"  by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(d).  
6Substituted by the Punjab A griculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026);  and published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(d). 
7Added by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III o f 2026); and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(e). 
8
[(3) The Authority shall consist of the Chairperson who shall be the Chief 
Minister or a Minister nominated by the Chief Minister and the following members: 
(a) Vice Chairperson; 
(b) Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare or Advisor to the Chief 
Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare; 
(c) Minister for Agriculture; 
(d) Minister for Food; 
9[(e) Secretary to the Government, Home Department;] 
 (f) Chairman, Planning and Development Board of the Government; 
(g) Secretary to the Government, Finance Department; 
(h) Secretary to the Government, Primary and Secondary Healthcare 
Department; 
(i) Secretary to the Government, S pecialized Healthcare and Medical 
Education Department; 
(j) Secretary to the Government, Agriculture Department; 
(k) Secretary to the Government, Food Department; 
(l) Director General, Punjab Forensic Science Agency; 
(m) not more than five scientists inclu ding at least one female scientist, if 
available, in the relevant field from public or private sector; and 
(n) Director General (Member/Secretary). 
(4) If a member mentioned at clauses (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k) of 
subsection (3) is unable to attend a meeting for reasons beyond his control, he may 
depute an officer of his department not below the rank of an Additional Secretary to 
attend the meeting.]  
(5) The Government shall appoint the Vice Chairperson and members, 
other than the ex-officio members, for each term of three years. 
(6) The Vice Chair person or a member, other than an ex-officio member, 
shall not be appointed as a member for more than two consecutive terms. 
(7) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid merely by reason 
of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. 
(8) Seven members shall constitute the quorum for a meeting of the 
Authority, and the decision of the Authority shall be taken in terms of the majority of 
the members present and voting. 
(9) The Authority shall meet at least once in three months. 
(10) A meeting of the Authority shall be held on such date and time as the 
Chairperson may determine. 
                                                
8Substituted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2016 (XLIII of 2016),  and published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 October 2016, pp. 2443-2444, s.2. 
9Substituted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.3. 
(11) The Chairperson shall approve the agenda of a meeting of the 
Authority. 
(12) The Chairperson and , in his absence, the Vice Chairperson shall 
preside a meeting of the Authority and in the absence of both, the meeting shall be 
presided by the member nominated for the pu rpose by the Chairperson and if  not so 
nominated, by the member elected to preside the meeting by the members present. 
(13) The Director General shall maintain or cause to be maintained the 
record of each meeting of the Authority, including the minutes of the meetings, in the 
prescribed manner.  
4. Disqualification of the members.– No person shall be appointed or continue 
as the member, who:  
(a) is or, at any time, has been convicted of an offence involving moral 
turpitude; 
(b) is or, at any time, has been adjudicated as an insolvent; or 
(c) is found to be a lunatic or of unsound mind; or   
(d) is in a situation of irreconcilable conflicting interest with the Authority.  
5. Functions.– (1) The Authority may perform such functions and exercise such 
powers as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act.  
(2) Without prejudice to the generality o f the functions mentioned in 
subsection (1), the Authority shall: 
10[(a) make policies for carrying out forensic examination and testing of 
fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, biomedical device, 
alternative m edicine, biological m edicine, orthopaedic implant, animal 
feed, soil, water contamination and associated raw materials, and 
establish and manage the testing facilities for the purpose; 
(b) accredit, in the prescribed manner, the facilities for forensic 
examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, 
biomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, 
orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and 
associated raw materials; 
 (c) provide expert opinion with regard to the forensic examination and 
testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, c osmetics, biomedical 
device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, orthopaedic implant, 
animal feed, soil, water contamination and associated raw materials; 
(d) procure, operate and maintain scientific instruments for forensic 
examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, 
biomedical device, alternative m edicine, biological medicine, 
orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and 
associated raw materials; 
(e) propose advancement in forensic techniques and suggest the use of 
suitable sc ientific instruments for forensic examination and testing of 
fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, biomedical device, 
alternative m edicine, biological m edicine, orthopaedic implant, animal 
                                                
10Substituted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.4. 
feed, soil, water contamination and associated raw materials; 
(f) seek information or clarification from the persons responsible for the 
collection or handling of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, c osmetics, 
biomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, 
orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and 
associated raw materials in the prescribed manner; 
(g) approve procedures for collection, preservation and handling of 
samples for forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, 
food, drug, c osmetics, biomedical device, alternative medicine, 
biological medicine, orthopaedic implant, animal feed, s oil, water 
contamination and associated raw materials; 
(h) with the approval of the Director General, collect samples for 
forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, 
cosmetics, biomedical device, alternative medicine, biological 
medicine, orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water, and associated 
raw m aterials from any manufacturer, distributor, retailer, wholesaler, 
importer, exporter or reseller as per annual sampling regime or as the 
need may be, to address public health challenges; 
(i) maintain r ecord of forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, 
pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, biomedical device, alternative 
medicine, biological medicine, orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, 
water contamination and associated raw materials including the record 
pertaining to the identity of the person connected with, or accused of, 
an offence in the prescribed manner; (j) promote general awareness 
on matters relating to forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, 
pesticide, food and drug;  
(j) promote general awareness on m atters relating to forensic 
examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, 
biomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, 
orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and 
associated raw materials; 
(k) specify the timelines for retention of samples and results of forensic 
examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, 
biomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, 
orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and 
associated raw materials;] 
(l) ensure complete ind ependence and impartiality of all the laboratories 
administered or accredited by it; 
(m) maintain its operational autonomy and neutrality and shall guard 
against any extraneous or external interference or influence in the 
discharge of its functions under the Act; 
(n) undertake research and development in the relevant and allied fields; 
(o) be responsible for obtaining and maintaining international accreditation 
for its laboratories; and 
(p) perform any other functions ancillary to the above functions or suc h 
functions as the Government may, by notification, assign. 
(3) The Authority shall be deemed as: 
(a) a drug testing laboratory under the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 1976); 
(b) a food laboratory for purposes of the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 
(XVI of 2011) or the Punjab Pure Food Ordinance, 1960 (VII of 1960); 
(c) a fertilizer testing laboratory under the Punjab Fertilizers (Control) 
Order, 1973 (VII of 1973); and 
(d) a pesticides laboratory under the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 
1971 (II of 1971). 
6. Allocation of laboratories.– The Government may, by notification, allocate a 
laboratory or any testing or other facility of the Government connected with the 
forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug to the Authority 
on such terms and conditions as the Government and the Authority may determine. 
7. Director General .– (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Government shall 
appoint the Director General from amongst a panel of qualified experts possessing 
such qualifications and expe rience and selected in the prescribed manner and until 
so prescribed, as the Government may determine. 
(2) The Director General shall be an expert in one or more disciplines of 
forensic science relevant to fertilizer, pesticide, food  or drug in accordance with the 
prescribed standards. 
(3) The Director General shall hold office for a renewable term of three 
years. 
(4) The Government shall determine the terms and conditions of service of 
the Director General and they shall not be varied during his term of office. 
(5) The Government may, after notice and inquiry in the prescribed 
manner, remove the Director General during the tenure of his office on the ground of 
inefficiency, corruption or inability to perform functions owing to medical or other 
reasons. 
(6) The Director General shall be the chief executive officer of the 
Authority and, subject to the general supervision and direction of the Authority, shall 
exercise such administrative and financial powers of the Authority as the Authority 
may delegate to him or as may be prescribed. 
8. Experts.– (1) The Authority, for the discharge of its functions under this Act, 
may appoint experts in such manner and on such terms and conditions, including the 
market-based salary, as it may, through regulations, determine.  
(2) The Authority shall not appoint a person as expert unless he is 
qualified to conduct forensic examination or testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food  or 
drug. 
(3) A person appointed by the Authority as an expert shall be deemed as:  
(a) an expert appointed under section 510 of the Code; 
(b) a person specially skilled in forensic examination or testing of fertilizer, 
pesticide, food  or drug under Article 59 of the Qanun -e-Shahadat 
Order, 1984 (X of 1984); 
(c) a Government analyst under the Drugs Act, 1976  (XXXI of 1976) and 
the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971 (II of 1971); 
(d) a public analyst under  the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 (XVI of 
2011) and the Punjab Pure Food Ordinance, 1960 (VII of 1960); and 
(e) an Agricultural Chemist under the Punj ab Fertilizers (Control) Order, 
1973 (VII of 1973). 
(2) The Authority shall not entrust forensic examination or testing of 
fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug to a person who has been convicted of an offence of 
giving false evidence.  
9. Expert opinion.– (1) A court, tribunal or concerned authority may send to the 
Authority, a sample of fertilizer, pesticide, food  or drug connected with investigation 
or proceedings before it for examination and expert opinion. 
(2) The Authority shall authenticate and send the e xpert opinion to the 
court, tribunal or concerned authority in the prescribed manner.  
(3) The expert opinion shall carry the name and designation of the expert 
who conducted the examination or test of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug. 
10. Clarification of opinion .– (1) If an expert opinion is not clear, the court, 
tribunal or concerned authority may refer it to the Authority for clarification on a 
specific question. 
(2) The Authority shall, on receipt of the reference, send the clarification on 
the question to the concerned court, tribunal or authority.  
(3) If the condition of the sample of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug or any 
other fact does not allow submission of a clear answer to the question, the Authority 
shall state its inability to answer the question. 
11. Re-examination of samples .– (1) A person aggrieved by the opinion of the 
expert, may for sufficient cause, submit for re -examination an application before the 
court, tribunal or concerned authority before which the opinion is rendered or the 
court or tribunal before which the opinion is submitted by the concerned authority. 
(2) If the court, tribunal or concerned authority is satisfied that there are 
sufficient grounds for reconsideration of the opinion, it may, for reasons to be 
recorded in writing, direct the Authority to re -examine the sample of fertilizer, 
pesticide, food or drug. 
(3) The Director General shall, on receipt of the direction, constitute a 
panel of three or more experts to re -examine the sample of fertilizer, pesticide, food 
or drug or refer the same to any other forensic examination facility for examination 
and opinion. 
(4) The Director General shall submit the finding of the team of experts or 
the forensic facility to the court, tribunal or the concerned authority. 
12. Fund.– (1) There shall be established a F und to be known as the Punjab 
Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority  Fund to be administered and controlled by the 
Authority.  
(2) The Fund shall consist of: 
(a) funds provided by the Government or the Federal Government;  
(b) loans or grants by the Government or the Federal Government;  
(c) grants and loans negotiated and raised, or otherwise obtained, by the 
Authority with the prior approval of the Government;  
(d) fee, charges, rentals, fines and other moneys collecte d by the 
Authority;  
(e) income from the lease or sale of the property;  
(f) funds from floating bonds, shares, debentures, certificates, or other 
securities issued by the Authority; and  
(g) all other sums received by the Authority. 
(3) The Authority shal l meet all its expenses from the Fund and shall 
exercise prudence in its expenditures from the Fund. 
13. Bank account.– The Authority may open and maintain its accounts at such 
scheduled banks as may be prescribed, and until so prescribed, as the Authority  
may determine. 
14. Budget and accounts.– (1) The Director General shall prepare the budget of 
the Authority for each financial year commencing on first day of July of an year and 
ending on thirtieth day of June of the succeeding year. 
(2) The Director Gen eral shall place the budget for approval before the 
Authority at least forty five days prior to the commencement of a financial year. 
(3) The accounts of the Authority shall be maintained in such manner as 
may be prescribed. 
15. Audit.– (1) The Auditor Gen eral of Pakistan shall conduct audit of the 
accounts of the Authority. 
(2) The Authority shall appoint a firm of chartered accountants, which is 
placed in category „A‟ by State Bank of Pakistan, for the annual audit of the accounts 
of the Authority. 
(3) The auditors appointed under subsection (2) shall submit the report to 
the Authority and the Authority may take such action and make such decisions as 
may be necessary in the light of the audit report. 
16. Appointment of employees .– (1) Subject to the prior approval of the 
Authority, the Director General may appoint such employees as may be necessary 
for the efficient performance of functions of the Authority on such terms and 
conditions and on such market based remuneration as the Authority may, through 
regulations, prescribe. 
(2) The Authority shall not transfer or lend any of its employees to any 
other organization or the Government and shall not accept by transfer or on 
deputation any officer or official of any such organization or the Government. 
(3) A Go vernment agency including police and anti -corruption 
establishment shall not initiate any enquiry or investigation against the official 
conduct of any of the employees without prior approval or complaint of the Authority. 
17. Public servants.– All persons acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any 
provision of this Act, shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of 
section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
18. Delegation of powers.– The Authority may delegate to the Direc tor General, 
a committee of the Authority, a member or any employee of the Authority any of its 
functions except the following functions: 
(a) adaptation or amendment or repeal of regulations; 
(b) approval of annual budget of the Authority; 
(c) consideration and decision on the audit reports; 
(d) approval of the standards and procedures for operation of the 
Authority; and 
(e) fill a vacancy in a committee of the Authority. 
19. Conflict of interest .– (1) A member shall not, directly or indirectly, receive 
any profit from his position as the member except the reasonable expenses incurred 
by the member in the performance of duties under this Act.  
(2) The pecuniary interests of the immediate family members or close 
personal or business associates of a member sha ll also be considered to be the 
pecuniary interest of the member. 
(3) A member shall be in conflict of interest if the member: 
(a) is an employee, or a paid consultant of a business entity that has, or of 
a trade association of business entities that have,  a substantial interest 
in any of the functions of the Authority; 
(b) owns, controls, or has, directly or indirectly, more than ten per cent 
equity in a business entity that has a substantial interest in any of the 
functions of the Authority; 
(c) receives more than twenty-five per cent of his individual income from a 
business entity that has a substantial interest in any of the functions of 
the Authority; and 
(d) benefits either directly or indirectly, financially or otherwise, from being 
the member. 
(4) A member shall disclose a potential, real or perceived conflict of 
interest as soon as he becomes aware of the potential conflict before the Authority or 
any of its committees seized of the matter. 
(5) If a member is not certain about the situation of the co nflict of interest, 
the member shall place the matter before the Authority for advice and the decision of 
the Authority on conflict of interest shall be final.  
(6) A member shall not take part in the proceedings of the Authority in 
which any question of conflict of interest of the member is on the agenda.  
(7) The disclosure of conflict of interest and the decision of the Authority 
shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. 
20. Offence.– (1) If an employee knowingly or negligently renders false, inco rrect 
or misleading opinion before a court, tribunal or the concerned authority, he shall be 
punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years but which shall not be 
less than one month and with fine which may extend to five hundred thousand 
rupees but which shall not be less than twenty five thousand rupees. 
(2) An offence under this section shall be triable by a Court of Sessions. 
(3) The Court shall not take cognizance of an offence under this Act 
except on a complaint in writing of the Director General in the prescribed manner.  
21. Appeal.– A person aggrieved by an order or sentence passed by a Court of 
Sessions under section 20 of this Act may, within thirty days, prefer an appeal to 
Lahore High Court. 
22. Recovery of dues.– (1) The Authority shall recover the fine, fee or any other 
amount, imposed or levied under this Act, the rules or the regulations, as an arrear  
of land revenue and, for the purpose, authorize an employee to exercise the powers 
of Collector under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 1967).  
(2) The fee charged under th e Act, the rules or the regulations shall be 
deposited in the Fund of the Authority. 
23. Annual performance report.– (1) The Authority shall prepare and forward to 
the Government by 3 0th September each ye ar, the annual performance report 
relating to performance of its functions with respect to forensic examination or testing 
of samples of fertilizer, pesticide, food and drug during the preceding financial year. 
(2) The Government shall, as soon as possible , submit the report before 
the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. 
24.  Monitoring and evaluation .– (1) The Government shall, at least once in a 
year, conduct or cause to be conducted, the performance audit of the Authority to 
assess and evaluate the perfor mance of the Authority in accomplishing the 
objectives of this Act.  
(2) The Government shall evaluate the reports mentioned in subsection (1) 
of section 23 and subsection (1) of this section and shall issue such directions to the 
Authority as may be neces sary for accomplishing the objectives under th e Act and 
the Authority shall implement the directions. 
25. Other laws.– The provisions of this Act shall be read in conjunction with and 
not in derogation from any other law for the time being in force but in case of any 
inconsistency or conflict, the provisions of th e Act shall prevail to the extent of the 
inconsistency or conflict. 
26. Rules.– The Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the 
purposes of this Act. 
27. Regulations.– Subject to this Act and the rules, the Authority may frame 
regulations to give effect to the provisions of the Act. 
28. Repeal.– The Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority  Ordinance, 2016 
(XI of 2016) is hereby repealed.