Destructive Insects and Pests (Consolidation) Act, 1958

Orders for preventing spreading of destructive insects or pests or agents for the biological control of plant pests.

3.—(1) The Minister may from time to time make such orders as he thinks expedient for preventing the spreading in the State or destructive insects or pests or agents for the biological control of plant pests.

(2) An order under this section may, if the Minister thinks fit,—

(a) direct or authorise—

(i) the removal or destruction of any crop or substance on which is found any destructive insect or pest in any stage of existence or any agent for the biological control of plant pests, or to or by means of which any such destructive insect or pest or any agent for the biological control of plant pests may appear to the Minister likely to spread, and

(ii) the entering on any lands for the purpose of such removal or destruction, or for the purpose of any examination or inquiry authorised by the order, or for any other purpose of the order;

(b) prohibit the keeping, selling or exposing or offering for sale, or the keeping or the distribution in any manner of living specimens of—

(i) any destructive insect or pest in any stage of existence, or

(ii)any agent for the biological control of plant pests;

(c) empower any inspector authorised in that behalf by the Minister to do all or any of the following things—

(i) to remove or destroy or cause to be removed or destroyed any crop infected with any destructive insect or pest or any agent for the biological control of plant pests introduced into the State and specified in the order or any crop to or by means of which such destructive insect or pest or such agent for the biological control of plant pests is likely to spread,

(ii) generally to take such steps as he may think expedient in connection with any crop for preventing the spread of any such destructive insect or pest or any such agent for the biological control of plant pests,

(iii) to enter on any land for any of the purposes aforesaid or for any examination or inquiry authorised by the order or for any other purpose of the order;

(d) impose, in respect of any certificate given in pursuance of the order after an inspection, such fee or other charge as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, may prescribe;

(e) impose penalties for offences against the order not exceeding, in the case of a first offence, a fine of ten pounds or, in the case of a second or any subsequent offence, a fine of twenty pounds.

(3) Every person who contravenes (by act or omission) any order made under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction to the penalties imposed by the order.