LEX-FAOC073002

This Act makes provision with respect to plant health and protection from pests and diseases, the importation and exportation of plant material, the production and marketing of seeds, the quality control of seeds, and the control on the manufacture and use of, and trade in fertilizers. The Act establishes the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, the Plant Protection Advisory Council, the National Seed Council, a Technical and Variety Release Committee, a National Variety Release and Registration Committee, an Fertilizer Inspection Fund, the National Fertilizer Council, the Ghana Fertilizer Advisory Committee, the Pesticide and Fertilizer Regulatory Division, and the Plant and Fertilizer Fund. The Act consists of 124 sections divide into five Parts: Plants Protection (1); Seeds (2); fertilizer Control (3); Plans and Fertilizer Fund (4); Miscellaneous Matters (5).; Import of plant, plant material or conveyance requires a phytosanitary certificate. Any plant, plant material or other item that may contain plant pests shall on its importation into the country be subject to inspection in accordance with the procedures of the International Plant Protection Convention. plant material intended for exportation shall be subject to a pre-export examination by the Plant Quarantine Services Division. The Minister may issue Regulations to declare a plant pest to be a regulated pest.; The purpose of Part 2 is to regulate and monitor the exportation, importation and commercial transaction in seeds and related matters. A person shall not import, export, produce, clean or sell an seed in commercial quantities unless that person is registered with the Minister. The Ministry shall keep a Seeds Register. Seeds shall be packed and labelled in accordance with provisions of this Act. The Ministry shall also prepare an official list of varieties of seeds which can be registered and marketed in the country. Seed species and varieties multiplied and certified under this Act shall be classified into (a) parental material, (b) pre-basic seed or breeder, (c) basic seed or foundation, and (d) certified seed.; The purpose of Part 3 is to provide for the control and regulation of fertilizers. A person shall not import, manufacture or distribute fertilizers in commercial quantities unless that person is registered with the Ministry in the Fertilizer Register. Registration granted by the Minister under this Act shall be subject to the conditions specified in the registration. The Minister may by legislative instrument prescribe the containers, labels and manner of packaging of fertilizers. Inspections shall be carried out on behalf of the Ministry and an inspector may issue a stop sale order in respect of illegal fertilizer. Plant nutrients in addition to nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium where mentioned in any form or manner on the label shall be guaranteed.; The Minister may assign any function under this Act to a Director or other qualified government official where appropriate and make Regulations in respect of various matters for purposes of this Act as prescribed.