Act XV of 2021 · 18 pages
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THE ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY FOOD SAFETY, 2021
CONTENTS
___________
CHAPTER-I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
2. Definitions
CHAPTER-II
ESTABLISHMENT OF FOOD AUTHORITY
3. Establishment of the Food Authority
4. Powers and functions of Food Authority
5. Director of the Food Authority
CHAPTER-III
FOOD SAFETY OFFICERS
6. Food safety officer
7. Powers of food safety officer
CHAPTER-IV
LABORATORIES
8. Establishment of food laboratories
9. Licensing of food business
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10. Public analysts
CHAPTER-V
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
11. Selling food against the law
12. Substandard or misbranded food
13. Unsafe food
14. Unhygienic or un-sanitary place for food
15. Contravention for which no specific penalty is provided
16. False Information
17. Obstructing the food safety officer
18. Business without license
19. False advertisement
20. False labelling etc.
21. Failure to comply with the directions
22. Punishment for subsequent offences
23. Compensation in case of injury or death of a consumer.
24. Forfeiture of food, etc.
25. Offences by companies
26. Publication in newspaper
CHAPTER-VI
JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE
27. Jurisdiction of the food authority
28. Food Tribunal
29. Cognizance and investigation
30. Time limit for prosecutions
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31. Summary trail
32. Defence available
33. Recovery of fines etc.
34. Appeal against conviction
35. Transfer of cases
CHAPTER-VII
MISCELLANEOUS
36. Powers to make rules
37. Powers to make regulations
38. Immunity
39. Public Servant
40. Bank accounts
41. Budget and accounts
42. Audit
43. Annual report
44. Application of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898).
45. Repeal and savings
46. Overriding effect
47. Power to remove difficulties
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THE ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY FOOD SAFETY, 2021
[1st December, 2021]
ACT NO. L OF 2021
AN
ACT
to provide for the safety and standards of food and for establishment of the Islamabad Food Authority
WHEREAS, it is expedient to protect public health, to provide for the safety and standards
of food, to establish the Islamabad Food Authority and for other connected matters;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
CHAPTER-I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act shall be called the Islamabad
Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021.
(2) It extends to the whole of the Islamabad Capital Territory.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions.—(1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context.—
(i) “Act” means the Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Act, 2021.
(ii) “adulterated food” means an article of food,—
(a) which is not of the nature, substance or quality which it purports or represented to be; or
(b) which contains any such extraneous substance which may affect adversely the nature,
substance or quality thereof; or
(c) which is processed, mixed, coloured, powdered or coated with any other substance in
contravention of any provision of the Act rules or regulations; or
(d) any constituent which has been wholly or in part abstracted so as to affect injuriously its
nature, substance or quality; or
(e) which contains any poisonous or other ingredient which may render it injurious to health;
or
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(f) the quality or purity of which does not conform to the prescribed standards; or
(g) which having been prepared, packed or kept under unhygienic and insanitary
conditions, or has become contaminated or injurious to health;
(iii) “advertisement” means any publicity, representation or pronouncement made by any means for
the purposes of promoting, directly or indirectly, the sale or other disposal of any food;
(iv) “competent authority” means the Secretary Interior Division;
(v) “consumer” means any person that purchases the food against consideration or otherwise;
(vi) “Director Food Authority” means officer appointed or nominated as such by the
competent authority for the purposes of this Act;
(vii) “fee” means the amount prescribed by the rules;
(viii) “food” means anything whether processed, semi processed, raw or cooked and used as
food adulterant for human consumption other than drugs as defined in the Drug Act,1976
(XXXI of 1976) and includes,—
(a) any substance intended to be used in composition or preparation of food;
(b) any flavouring matter or condiment;
(c) any colouring matter intended to be used in food;
(d) chewing gum, confectionery and other products of the like nature; and
(e) water in any form, including ice, either for direct human oruse in the composition or
preparation of food:
Provided that competent authority may declare, by notification in the official Gazette, any
article as food for the purposes of this Act:
Provided further that an article shall not cease to be food by reason only that it is also
capable of being used as a medicine.
(ix) “food additive” includes any substance which, normally, is not consumed as food, by
itself, but is used as a typical ingredient of the food, the addition of which to the food
affects the characteristics of such food;
(x) “Food Authority” means the ICT Food Authority established under section 3 of the Act;
(xi) “food business” means any undertaking establishment or concern whether maintained for
profit or otherwise, carrying on any of the activities related to any stage of manufacturing,
processing, packaging, import, export, storage, transportation, distribution of food and
includes services like catering, distribution and sale of food or food ingredients;
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(xii) “food laboratory” means any laboratory or institute to be declared by the Competent
Authority;
(xiii) “food safety officer” means any officer appointed as such, by the competent authority;
(xiv) “godown” means a place where articles of food are received or stored for sale or delivery
to a customer or consignee, and includes godowns of the Railways and other transport
agencies, etc.;
(xv) “Food Tribunal” means any Magistrate, not less than First Class, notified as tribunal
under the Act;
(xvi) “Government” means the government in relation to the Islamabad Capital Territory;
(xvii) “injury” means causing of pain, harm, disease, infirmity either bodily or in mind;
(xviii) “ingredient” means any substance, including a food additive used in processing,
manufacturing, preparation etc. of food to present its final food product either in modified
form or otherwise;
(xix) “label” includes any tag, brand, mark whether pictorial or descriptive written, printed,
stencilled, embossed, impressed on, or attached to or included in or belonging to or
accompanying any food;
(xx) “licence” means a licence granted under this Act or the rules made there under, as may be
notified by the Director Food Authority;
(xxi) “misbranded food” means an article of food,—
(a) which is an imitation of, or resembles an other food in such a manner that is likely to
deceive the consumers; or
(b) which is so coloured, flavoured, coated, powdered or polished as to conceal the true
nature thereof; or
(c) which is contained in any package which, or the label of which bears any statement,
design, picture or description regarding the ingredients or the substances contained
therein, which is false or misleading.
(xxii) “package” includes anything in which food is wholly or partly cased, covered, enclosed,
contained, placed or otherwise packed in any way whatsoever and any such other
receptacle of any kind whether opened or closed;
(xxiii) “premises” include any shop, stall, hotel, restaurant, airline services, canteens, place
(open or closed by a boundary), building or tent or any other structure and any adjoining
land used in connection therewith and any vehicle, conveyance, vessel or aircraft where
any article of food is manufactured, stored, transported or sold etc.;
(xxiv) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules;
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(xxv) “public analyst” means an analyst appointed under the Act;
(xxvi) “safe food” means the food that is not unsafe;
(xxvii) “sale” with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions, means a transfer of
ownership of any article of food, and includes an agreement for sale, and also an attempt
to sell any such article;
(xxviii) “standard” in relation to any article of food, means the prescribed and includes the
standard notified by the Food Authority;
(xxix) “sub-standard” means the article of food that does not meet the prescribed but not so as
to render the article of food unsafe;
(xxx) “transit” includes all stages of transportation from the place of manufacture, production,
processing, or other source of origin to the consumer;
(xxxi) “unsafe food” means an article of food whose nature, substance or quality is so affected
by any means as to render it injurious to health and includes food which does not comply
with relevant technical resolutions under technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and
phytosanitary (CPS) conditions;
(xxxii) “food operator” means a person who manufactures for sale, transports, by the Competent
Authority as such; and
(xxxiii) “scientific panel” means the scientific panel constituted under the Act.
CHAPTER-II
ESTABLISHMENT OF FOOD AUTHORITY
3. Establishment of the Food Authority.—(1) The Government shall, by notification in the
official Gazette, establish the ICT Food Authority to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) The Food Authority shall consist of a Board comprising a Chairperson and following
Members, namely:—
(a) Chief Commissioner ICT. Chairperson
(b) Representative of the Ministry of Health Regulation
not below BPS-19. Member
(c) Representative of the Ministry of Interior not
below BPS-19. Member
(d) Representative of the Government, Food Security
not below BPS-19. Member
(e) Two members of the National Assembly of the ICT
to be nominated by the Government. Member
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(f) Two food technologists or scientists to be nominated
by the Government. Member
(g) one representative of the Chambers of Commerce
and Industry to be nominated by the Government. Member
(h) one representative of Industry to be nominated by
the Government. Member
(i) one representative of Food Operator to be nominated
by the Government. Member-cum-Secretary
(3) The members other than the ex-officio members shall be appointed in the manner and term
as prescribed.
(4) The general directions and superintendence of the affairs of the Authority shall vest in Board
who with the assistance of Director Food Authority shall discharge its functions under the guidance and
instructions on policy matters by the Federal Government.
(5) The Board may, with the prior approval of the Chairperson, co-opt any other person as a
member.
(6) The Chairperson and members, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed in such
manner as to ensure the highest standards of professional competence and experience.
(7) A meeting of the Board shall be held in the manner provided by the regulations, and until so
provided, as may be determined by the Board.
(8) The Secretary of the Board shall, on the direction of the Chairperson, call a meeting of the
Board.
(9) The Board shall meet at least thrice in a year.
(10) The Chairperson, or in his/her absence, any other member elected by the members present at
a meeting, shall preside at a meeting of the Board.
(11) The quorum for a meeting shall be one third of the total members, the fraction being counted
as one.
(12) No act or proceedings of the Board shall be questioned or invalidated merely on the ground
of existence of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Board.
4. Powers and functions of Food Authority.—(1) The Food Authority shall enjoy such powers
and perform such function as may be notified by the Government from time to time in addition to the
following functions, namely:—
(a) specify procedures and guidelines for setting up and accreditation of food laboratories;
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(b) formulate method of sampling, analysis of samples and reporting of results;
(c) specify licensing, prohibition orders, recall procedures, improvement notices or
prosecution;
(d) determine terms and conditions of service of its employees;
(e) collect and analyze relevant scientific and technical data relating to food;
(f) establish a system of network of food operators and consumers to facilitate food safety
and quality control;
(g) organize training programmes in food safety and standards;
(h) promote general awareness as to food safety standards;
(i) levy fee for registration, licensing and other services;
(j) certify food for expert;
(k) perform any other prescribed function; and
(l) do any other thing which is necessary for the discharge of its functions under this Act.
(2) The Food Authority shall exercise its functions, as far as possible, in accordance with the
well-established scientific principles and international best practices.
5. Director of the Food Authority.—(1) The competent authority shall nominate or appoint
the Director Food Authority on such terms and conditions as it may determine.
(2) The Director Food Authority, who shall be the chief executive officer of the Authority, shall
be responsible for efficient implementation of the Act.
(3) The Director Food Authority shall exercise such powers and functions as may be prescribed.
CHAPTER-III
FOOD SAFETY OFFICERS
6. Food safety officer.—The competent authority may by notification in the official Gazette
appoint food safety officers, from amongst such persons as it deems appropriate for the purpose having
such qualifications as may be prescribed in the rules.
7. Powers of food safety officer.—(1) The powers and functions of the food safety officers shall
be the following, namely:—
(a) take sample of any food or any substance, which appears to him to be intended for sale, or has
been sold as food;
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(b) seize any food, apparatus or utensil which appears to the food safety officer to be in
contravention of this Act, the rules or the regulations;
(c) enter or seal any premises where he believes any food is prepared, preserved, packaged, stored,
conveyed, distributed or sold, examine any such food and examine anything that he believes
is used, or capable of being used for such preparation, preservation, packaging, storing,
conveying, distribution or sale;
(d) open and examine any package which, he believes, to contain any food;
(e) examine any book or documents with respect to any food and make copies of or take extracts
from the book or documents;
(f) demand the production of the identity card, the business registration certificate, licence or any
other relevant document from a food operator; and
(g) search and seize any vehicle carrying food.
(2) A food safety officer shall prepare a statement describing the food, apparatus, utensil, or
vehicle seized and shall deliver a copy of the statement to the person from whom it is seized or, if such
person is not present, send such copy to him by mail.
(3) A person claiming back anything seized under sub-section (1) may, within seven days of the
seizure, apply to the Court and the Court may confirm such seizure, wholly or in part, or may order that it
be restored to the claimant.
(4) If the Court confirms the seizure of the food, apparatus or utensil, it shall be forfeited to the
Food Authority or the Court may direct that such food, apparatus, utensil may be destroyed at the cost of
the owner or person in whose possession it was found.
(5) If an application is not made within seven days under sub-section (3), the food, apparatus or
utensil seized, shall be forfeited to the Food Authority.
(6) Any person may make an application in writing to the Food Safety Officer asking him to
purchase a sample of any food from a food operator and get it analyzed from the public analyst.
CHAPTER-IV
LABORATORIES
8. Establishment of food laboratories.— The competent authority may establish or opt any
accredited food laboratory from Pakistan National Accreditation Council for the purposes of carrying on
analysis of the samples procured as may be prescribed.
9. Licensing of food business.—(1) A person shall not use any place for food business except
under the prescribed registration or licence.
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(2) The Food Authority may in the prescribed manner, exempt a class of food operators from
obtaining compulsory registration or licence under this section.
10. Public analysts.- (1) The competent authority may, by notification in the official Gazette,
nominate or appoint such person as it may deems fit, having such qualification to be the public analyst for
such area as may be prescribed.
(2) The production of a certificate under the hand of a public analyst, in a trial shall, until contrary
is proved, be sufficient evidence of the facts stated therein.
(3) The Food Tribunal may of its own or on the request of the accused, send, any sample of food,
to the public analyst for test, the cost of which analysis shall be paid by the accused unless otherwise
directed by the Food Tribunal.
CHAPTER-V
OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
11. Selling food against the law.—Any person who sells or offers for sale any adulterated food
or food which is not in compliance with the provisions of this Act or the rules, shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to one million rupees
or with both.
12. Substandard or misbranded food.— Any person who manufactures for sale, stores, sells,
distributes any food which is substandard or is misbranded, shall be punished with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both.
13. Unsafe food.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, a
food operator, who manufactures for sale, stores, sells, distributes any unsafe food, shall be liable—
(a) where the unsafe food does not result in injury to any person, to imprisonment for a term
which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to one million rupees or with
both;
(b) where such unsafe food results in injury to any person, to imprisonment for a term which
may extend to three years or fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both; and
(c) where such unsafe food results in death of a person, to imprisonment for life or fine which
may extend to five million rupees, but not less than three million, or with both.
14. Unhygienic or un-sanitary place for food.—Any person who manufactures or processes or
keeps any article of food for human consumption under un-hygienic or unsanitary conditions, shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to half
a million rupees or with both.
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15. Contravention for which no specific penalty is provided.— Whoever, contravenes any
provisions of the Act or the rules made there under, for which no specific penalty has been provided,
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or fine which may extend
to half a million rupees or with both.
16. False Information.—If a person, in connection with a requirement or direction under this Act
or the rules made there-under, provides any information or produces any document or article of food that
is false or misleading, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or
fine which may extend to half a million rupees or with both.
17. Obstructing the food safety officer.— (1) Any person who obstructs or impedes any food
safety officer or any other authorized officer in the course of performing his duty under the Act or the
rules made there under, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six
months or fine which may extend to half a million rupees or with both.
(2) Any person who un-lawfully removes, alters or interferes, in any way, with any food, article,
equipment, vehicle, etc. seized, detained or sealed under the Act or the rules made thereunder shall be
punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to half
a million rupees or with both.
18. Business without license.— If any food business operator who manufacturers, sells, stores
or distributes any article of food without the prescribed license, shall be punished with imprisonment for
a term which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to half a million rupees or with both.
19. False advertisement.— (1) Any person who for the purpose of affecting or promoting the
sale of any food, publishes or causes to be published, any advertisement which,—
(a) falsely describes the food; or
(b) is contrary to the any provision of Act or the rules; or
(c) is likely to deceive a purchaser with regard to the character, nature, value, substance, quality,
strength, purity, composition, merit, safety, weight, proportion, origin, age or effects of any
food or of any ingredient or constituent of the food, shall be punished with imprisonment for
a term which may extend to one year or fine which may extend to two million rupees or with
both.
(2) Any person who publishes or causes to be published any advertisement which does not contain
the true name of the person by whom the advertisement is published and the address of his place of
business, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or fine which
may extend to two million rupees or with both.
20. False labelling etc.— (1) Any person who prepares, packages, labels any food which does not
comply with the prescribed standards, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend
to three years or fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both.
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(2) Any person who labels any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive with regard
to its character, nature, value, substance, quality or composition, shall be punished with imprisonment for
a term which may extend to one year or fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both.
21. Failure to comply with the directions.— If any person, without any reasonable ground, fails
to comply with any order or notice issued or any directions given, under this Act or the rules made
thereunder, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or fine which
may extend to half a million rupees or with both.
22. Punishment for subsequent offences.—(1) If any person after having been, previously
convicted of an offence punishable under the Act or rules made thereunder, is subsequently convicted
of the same offence, shall be liable to—
(a) the double of the punishment which he had already received as previous conviction; and
(b) on further commission of offence under the Act or the rules made there under, be banned to
carry on the food business in addition to the award of maximum punishment for the offence.
(2) The licence of such food operator shall be cancelled.
23. Compensation in case of injury or death of a consumer.—(1) Notwithstanding anything
contained in any other law, in case of injury or death of a consumer due to unsafe food, the Tribunal in
addition to any other penalty under this Act may direct the food operator to pay compensation to the
consumer or the legal heirs of the consumer, as the case may be, an amount which is—
(a) not less than one million rupees in case of death; and
(b) not exceeding half a million rupees in case of injury.
(2) If the food operator fails to pay the compensation under this section, the Food Authority
shall recover the compensation as arrears of land revenue and make payment of the recovered amount to
the injured or legal heirs of the deceased, as the case may be.
Explanation.—In this section, “Company means a body corporate and includes a firm or any
other association of persons, whether required or not.
24. Forfeiture of food, etc.—In case of conviction under this Act, the Tribunal may direct that
any food, apparatus, utensil, equipment, machinery, vehicle or any other thing, be confiscated or destroyed
at the cost of the operator.
25. Offences by companies.—(1) Where an offence under this Act or rules made there under has
been committed by a company, every person, who at the time of the commission of the offence, was in-
charge of the company as well as the company shall be jointly and severally liable for the punishment of
the offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where it is proved that the offence is
attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company,
such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be liable to the punishment of the offence or
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any other association of persons, whether required or not.
26. Publication in newspaper.—If a person is convicted of an offence and the conviction has
attained finality, the Food Authority shall, if so directed by the Tribunal, publish the name of the person
together with the name and place of his business, the nature of the offence and the fine, forfeiture, or other
penalty imposed on him, in newspapers or in any other mode of information to the people and the convict
shall be liable to pay the cost of any such publication.
CHAPTER-VI
JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE
27. Jurisdiction of the food authority.—(1) On information received from any source, the Food
Authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, shall—
(a) register information of an offence under this Act; or
(b) submit complaint of an offence before the Food Tribunal; or
(c) suspend or cancel the licence of the food operator; or
(d) impose fine on the food operator which may extend to one million rupees; or
(e) direct destruction of an adulterated or unsafe food in the prescribed manner; or
(f) take any other action as may be prescribed; or
(g) decide, if the circumstances so warrant, not to take any action.
(2) If the Food Authority cancels the licence or imposes fine on a food operator, the food operator
may, within fifteen days of the communication of the order, prefer an appeal against such order to such
Appellate Authority as may be prescribed.
(3) The Food Authority or the Appellate Authority shall not pass any order relating to suspension
or cancellation of the licence or imposition of fine without providing an opportunity of hearing to the food
operator.
(4) An order of suspension of a licence under this section shall not be passed for a period
exceeding seven days at a time and, unless sooner withdrawn or the licence is cancelled, and shall cease
to have effect on the expiry of the thirtieth day from the date of first such order.
28. Food Tribunal.—An offence punishable under this Act shall be exclusively triable by the
Food Tribunal established by the Government and where it establishes more than one Food Tribunals, it
shall specify the territorial limits within which each Food Tribunal shall exercise its jurisdiction under the
Act.
29. Cognizance and investigation.—(1) An offence under this Act shall be cognizable on
information provided to the officer incharge of a police station by an officer authorized by the Food
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Authority.
(2) If the offence causes death of, or injury to, a person, the injured person or the legal heirs of
the deceased may also file a complaint in the Food Tribunals under Chapter-XVI of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898).
(3) The Director Food Authority may constitute a standing investigation team for an area
consisting of such police officers and food safety officer to investigate offences under the Act and the
rules made there under to submit report in the Food Tribunal under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898
(Act V of 1898).
(4) The offences under sections 22 and 24 of the Act shall be non-bailable.
30. Time limit for prosecutions.— The prosecution for an offence under this Act or the rules
made there under shall be filed within one year of the commission of the offence.
31. Summary trail.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1898 (Act V of 1898) but subject to sub-section (2), a Food Tribunal may summarily try an offence
punishable under this Act or the rules made thereunder, and impose punishment of imprisonment for a
term not exceeding six months, fine or both.
(2) If a Food Tribunal is of opinion that the nature of the offence does not justify summary trail,
it may conduct proceedings in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XX of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898).
32. Defence available.—In any proceedings for an offence under this Act, the exercise of due
care and caution shall be valid defence if it is proved that the person took all reasonable precautions and
exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.
33. Recovery of fines etc.—(1) The Food Authority shall recover the fine, fee or any other
amount, imposed or levied, under this Act or the rules made there under, as an arrears of land revenue
and, for the purpose, the officer authorized thereby shall exercise the powers of Collector under the Land
Revenue Act, 1967 (Act XVII of 1967).
(2) The fine imposed or the fee charged under the Act or the rules made there under shall
be deposited with the Food Authority and shall form part of the Food Authority Fund.
(3) The Authority may distribute ten percent of the fine to its officers as will be prescribed in
the rules.
34. Appeal against conviction.— The Authority or the person sentenced by a Food Tribunal
may, within thirty days from the date of communication of the order, file an appeal against the final
order of the Food Tribunal in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (Act V of1898).
35. Transfer of cases.— (1) A case regarding any matter within the jurisdiction of a Food
Tribunal, pending in any court before the establishment of a Food Tribunal under this Act and the rules
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made there under, shall stand transferred to Food Tribunal which shall have jurisdiction to try the case.
(2) The District and Sessions Judge may under his jurisdiction transfer a case from one Food
Tribunal to another Food Tribunal or direct to constitute a Food Tribunal made there under.
CHAPTER-VII
MISCELLANEOUS
36. Powers to make rules.— The Federal Government may, subject to the condition of previous
publication and by notification in the official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
37. Powers to make regulations.—The Director Food Authority may subject to the condition of
previous publication and by notification in the official Gazette, make regulations not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act or the rules.
38. Immunity.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Government,
any officer of the Government, the Food Authority, the Chairperson, a member or any other employee of
the Food Authority for anything which is done in good faith under this Act, the rules or the regulations.
39. Public Servant.—The employees of the Food Authority shall be deemed to be public servants
within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of l860).
40. Bank accounts.—The Food Authority may open and maintain its accounts at such scheduled
banks as may be prescribed, and until so prescribed, as the Government may determine.
41. Budget and accounts.— (1) The Food Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other
records relating to its financial affairs including its income and expenditures and its assets and liabilities
in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(2) After the conclusion of a financial year, the Food Authority, in the manner prescribed, shall
cause to be prepared for the financial year statements of account of the Food Authority which shall
include a balance sheet and an account of income and expenditures.
(3) The Food Authority shall approve its annual budget for a financial year in the prescribed
manner.
(4) No expenditure for which provision has not been made in any approved budget shall be
incurred without prior approval of the Food Authority.
42. Audit.—(1) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit the accounts of the Food
Authority.
(2) The Government, in addition to the audit under sub-section (1) shall cause the accounts of
the Food Authority annually audited by a chartered accountant or a firm of chartered accountants.
(3) The auditor appointed under sub-section (2) shall be provided such access to the books,
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accounts and other documents as may be considered necessary for the audit of accounts.
(4) The auditor shall submit the annual or any special audit report to the Food Authority, and
the Food Authority, under intimation to the Government, shall take appropriate remedial or other action
in the light of the audit report.
43. Annual report.— (1) The Food Authority shall, within three months of the close of a financial
year, submit to the Government an annual performance report.
(2) The report shall consist of.—
(a) the statement of accounts and audit reports of the Food Authority;
(b) a comprehensive statements of the work and activities of the Food Authority during the
preceding financial year and its proposed projects and schemes; and
(c) such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Food Authority may consider appropriate.
(3) The Government shall, within two months of receiving the report from the Food Authority,
lay the report in both Houses of the Parliament (Majlis-e-Shoora).
44. Application of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898).—The provisions
of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898) shall be applicable to the trial of the offences
under this Act.
45. Repeal and savings.—(1) The West Pakistan Pure Food Ordinance 1960 (W.P. Ord VII of
1960) is hereby repealed.
(2) Subject to this Act, any license or order issued under the repealed Ordinance, which is in
force on the date of coming into force of the Act, shall be deemed to have been issued under the Act and
shall continue to be in force until expired, cancelled or withdrawn.
(3) The standards, safety requirements and other provisions of the repealed Ordinance or the
rules made thereunder, shall, to the extent of consistency with the Act, continue to remain in force till the
standards, safety requirements are prescribed under the Act.
(4) Any license issued or orders passed under any law, which, on the date of commencement of
the Act, is in force in the ICT, shall continue to be in force till the date of its expiry or fresh license is
issued or any order is passed under this Act.
(5) The standards, safety requirements and other provisions of the repealed law or any other law
for the time being in force, shall continue to be in force till the provisions or this Act and the rules as the
case may be come into force in ICT.
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46. Overriding effect.—The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything
contained in any other law.
47. Power to remove difficulties.—The Government may, by notification in a official Gazette,
make provisions as may deem necessary for removing any difficulty rising out in giving effect to the
provisions of this Act, within period of two years after coming into force of this Act.
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RGN Dated: 12-03-2026
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Source: Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice (pakistancode.gov.pk). Text on this page is reproduced verbatim from the official PDF and is provided for reference only. For the authoritative version, always consult the source document or a current reported edition.
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