Environmental Law in Pakistan - IUCN

6.1.2.1 PakistanEnvironmental ProtectionAgency Review of InitialEnvironmentalExamination andEnvironmental ImpactAssessment Regulations2000 (SRO 339(I)/2000dated 13 June 2000)Schedule I, Section A, of these regulations requires that an IEE isundertaken prior to the establishment of specified types of farms.6.1.2.2 Seed Act 1976This act regulates the production and sale of seeds, andestablishes various bodies to oversee and manage the seedindustry. The provisions of this law apply to food crops, edible oil,fodder and cotton seeds (Section 2(p)). The National Seed Councilis responsible for policy and overall supervision of the seedindustry, including arrangements for the maintenance of thegenetic potential of seeds and the development of seed productionfarms (Section 4). The Federal Seed Certification Agency carriesout field inspections, sampling and testing, and provides technicaladvice (Section 6). The National Registration Agency assessesseed varieties, maintains a list of “registered” varieties andprovides information about seed varieties (Section 8).The federal government specifies the varieties of seeds approvedfor production, sets germination and purity standards, andregulates the labelling of certified seeds (Section 10). Onlyregistered varieties that conform to these standards may be sold ordistributed (Section 11). Seed producers, distributors and sellersmust obtain a certificate from the government (Section 13). Seedanalysts are authorised to inspect production farms (Section 17),while inspectors and certification officers are awarded wide powersto inspect packaged seeds (Sections 19 and 20). The federalgovernment may make rules to carry out the purposes of this act(Section 29) and delegate its powers to a subordinate officer orauthority, or to provincial governments (Section 28).6.1.2.3 ChemicalFertilizers (DevelopmentSurcharge) Act 1973This act provides for a development surcharge to be levied on boththe production of chemical fertilisers and the sale of fertilisers notalready subject to a surcharge at the production stage (Section 3).The federal government is empowered to fix the maximum price offertilisers (Section 5), and to grant exemptions from the levy of asurcharge (Section 4). The law does not provide for any specific useof funds collected through the surcharge. The federal governmentmakes rules to carry out the purposes of this act (Section 7) andmay delegate its powers to an officer or authority (Section 8).6.1.2.4 Loans forAgricultural PurposesAct 1973This act regulates the procedure for acquiring agricultural creditfrom public- and private-sector banks (Section 4). The federalgovernment may make rules to carry out the purposes of this actand delegate its powers to provincial governments (Section 5).06Processes andInstitutions47EnvironmentalLaw in PakistanFederal