KARACHI, May 22: Sindh Government’s Food Department in contravention of the “Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance 1971 (APO 1971)” has invited tenders for immediate supply of aluminium phosphide tablets in quantity of 30 tons.

In the tender notice which was floated on May 15, it has been specifically mentioned that the product registered or unregistered with the plant protection department can be offered.

The above condition is contrary to the “Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance 1971 (Amended up to 1997) and Rules 1973” whose clause 4 pertains to “Pesticides to be registered”. The clause reads: “No person shall import, manufacture, formulate, sell, offer for sale hold stock for sale or in any manner advertise any pesticide which has not been registered in the manner provided by this Act or the rules framed thereunder:

Provided that the federal government may, by notification in the official gazette, direct that a pesticide specified in the notification and not having a trade name will be imported only by a class or classes of importers as specified; except a pesticide having a trade name and registered in the country of manufacture which may be imported without undergoing the registration process but subject to the conditions notified from time to time by the federal government.

The above referred tender notice is suggesting the suppliers to offer for sale a pesticide product unregistered with the plant protection department.