Certification of fish seeds

(1) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, entrust agencies to certify the standard of quality of fish seeds. (2) The certification of fish seed and the entrustment of Agencies thereto, under sub-section (1) shall be in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) The Government shall, by notification in the Gazette, constitute a fish seed committee to advise the Government on all matters relating to certification of fish seeds and to co-ordinate the activities of the agencies entrusted under sub-section (1). (4) The Fish Seed Committee constituted under sub-section (3) shall consist of not exceeding five members who are technical experts in aquaculture/ fisheries sector to be nominated by the Government and the composition, the conditions of service and the salaries, the term of office and the duties, functions and powers of the Fish Seed Committee shall be in such manner as may be prescribed. (5) The Government may on the recommendation of the said Committee, if it deems necessary to control the standard of quality of aquaculture seed of any item or variety may, by notification in the Gazette, declare such item or variety to be a notified item or variety for the purpose of this Act and various items and variety may be notified for various district or for its various areas thereof. (6) The Government may, on the recommendation of the Fish Seed Committee, by notification in the Gazette, specify,— (a) the minimum size, weight, purity and health condition with respect to any aquaculture seed of any notified item or variety; (b) the symbol or label indicating that such aquaculture seeds conform to the minimum size, weight, purity and free from disease infection specified under clause (a) and the particulars that shall be contained in such symbol or label: (7) No person shall carry on the business of selling or keeping for sale or make ready for sale or supply through barter or otherwise of any fish seed of any notified item or variety unless,— (a) identifiable as to its item or variety; (b) conforms to the size, weight, purity, health condition specified in clause (a) of sub-section (6); (c) the container of such fish seed bears the symbol or label containing the correct particulars thereof as specified under clause (b) of sub-section (6) in prescribed form; (d) in accordance with such other necessary factors as may be prescribed. (8) The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, authorise such officers as it think necessary having the prescribed qualification, to inspect the fish seed and specify the local limits of jurisdiction within which they shall exercise their power.