National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority

This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions. (May 2025)

The National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority (NAFSA) is a statutory body established by the Government of Pakistan under the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025 (Ordinance No. VI of 2025). Promulgated on May 2, 2025, by President Asif Ali Zardari, the ordinance aims to regulate the quality and safety of agrochemicals, agricultural produce, plants, animals, and related products used as food or feed, particularly for international and inter-provincial trade. NAFSA is tasked with ensuring compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and international quality standards to facilitate competitive trade while safeguarding human, animal, and plant health.^[1][2][3]

The establishment of NAFSA^[4] was driven by the need to align Pakistan's agricultural trade practices with global standards, including those set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The ordinance was enacted under Article 89(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan, as the National Assembly and Senate were not in session, necessitating immediate action to address gaps in food safety and trade regulation.

NAFSA replaces and consolidates the functions of several repealed laws, including:

• Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act, 1976
• Pakistan Animal Quarantine Ordinance, 1979
• Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971
• Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937

These laws will be repealed on a date specified by the Federal Government, with NAFSA assuming their responsibilities.

The primary objectives of NAFSA include:

1. Regulation of Quality and Safety: Ensuring agrochemicals, agricultural produce, plants, animals, and related products meet SPS standards and international quality requirements.
2. Facilitation of Trade: Promoting competitive international and inter-provincial trade by aligning with domestic needs and global commitments.
3. Protection of Health and Environment: Safeguarding human, animal, and plant health from risks posed by harmful organisms, invasive species, and contaminated goods.
4. Biosecurity and Disease Control: Implementing surveillance, control, and biosecurity measures to manage notifiable animal diseases and pest-free zones.
5. Market Access: Negotiating and securing market access for Pakistani goods in international markets.

NAFSA is a corporate body with perpetual succession, headquartered in Islamabad, with the authority to establish offices across Pakistan. It has the power to enter contracts, acquire and dispose of property, and engage in legal proceedings.

The Board of Governors oversees NAFSA's policy direction and administration. Appointed by the Prime Minister for a three-year term, the Board comprises:

• Chairperson: A person with at least 12 years of experience in fields such as food safety, public health, agronomy, or trade.
• Members:
  • Six Secretaries from Agriculture or Livestock Departments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
  • One representative (Additional Secretary or above) from each of the divisions of National Food Security and Research, Climate Change, Commerce, Science and Technology, and Finance.
  • Two female experts in food safety, food technology, public health, or agronomy.
  • Two members from academia or research organizations.
  • Three representatives from plant trading associations, animal trading associations, and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
• Ex-officio Member: The Director General (non-voting, serves as Board Secretary).

The Board meets quarterly, with a simple majority quorum, including the Chairperson and a representative from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

The Director General, appointed by the Federal Government for a three-year term (renewable once), serves as the Chief Executive Officer, managing daily operations and exercising delegated powers.

NAFSA operates several committees to support its functions:

• Scientific Committee: Comprising at least 15 eminent scientists, it provides binding technical advice on matters referred by the Board or Director General.
• Advisory Committees: Established for various trades, these committees focus on improving SPS standards, monitoring pesticide residues, and enhancing farm practices.
• Complaint Resolution Committee: Addresses grievances related to registration, licensing, or certificate refusals.
• Appellate Committee: Handles appeals against decisions of the Complaint Resolution Committee.

NAFSA's functions include:

• SPS Compliance: Developing and enforcing SPS measures for import, export, and inter-regional trade, aligned with international standards.
• Business Operator Registration: Registering and regulating business operators and formulation plants.
• Inspection and Quarantine: Conducting inspections and managing quarantine facilities at points of entry and exit.
• Certification: Issuing quality, SPS, and animal health certificates.
• Biosecurity Management: Administering biosecurity measures for zones and compartments to support export certification.
• International Coordination: Representing Pakistan in global trade forums and negotiating market access.
• Crisis Management: Preparing and implementing national plans to control SPS-related risks.
• Laboratory Accreditation: Notifying and accrediting testing laboratories for official controls.

Authorized officers appointed by NAFSA have extensive powers, including inspection, sampling, seizure, and ordering the destruction of non-compliant goods.

The National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Fund is a non-lapsable fund comprising:

• Federal Government seed money and annual allocations.
• Export Development Fund contributions.
• Endowments, donations, and grants.
• Fees, fines, and charges from control functions.
• Income from investments and publications.

The fund is audited annually by the Auditor General of Pakistan, with provisions for additional audits by chartered accountants.

The ordinance outlines offences such as importing banned goods, using fake certificates, or handling adulterated pesticides. Penalties include:

• Up to 3 years imprisonment and/or a 3 million rupee fine for serious offences (e.g., importing diseased animals).
• Up to 2 years imprisonment and/or a 2 million rupee fine for quarantine violations.
• Up to 1 year imprisonment and/or a 1 million rupee fine for lesser offences.
• Fines up to 500,000 rupees for procedural violations, with daily fines for continued non-compliance.

Offences are cognizable by the Court of Sessions upon a complaint by the Director General or an authorized officer.

NAFSA collaborates with provincial governments by:

• Requiring annual control activity programs from nominated departments.
• Issuing policy guidelines and model regulations.
• Facilitating harmonization of provincial SPS laws.
• Resolving inter-provincial disputes through advisory and scientific committees.

Upon NAFSA's establishment, the Animal Quarantine Department and Department of Plant Protection will be abolished, with their assets and employees transferred to NAFSA. Employees have six months to opt for absorption or transfer to the surplus pool. Trade-related functions of these departments will continue for up to six months during the transition.

NAFSA represents a significant step toward modernizing Pakistan's agricultural trade framework. By centralizing SPS regulation, it aims to enhance export competitiveness, ensure food safety, and protect public health and the environment. Its focus on international standards and market access positions Pakistan to strengthen its role in global agricultural markets.