Inspection Agencies (Registration and Regulation) Ordinance, 1981

This Ordinance controls and regulates businesses that conduct pre-shipment inspection of goods being exported from, or imported into, Pakistan, meaning independent verification that goods match required standards or contract specifications before shipment. Section 2 defines key terms, including "inspection" (checking goods against a legal standard, a contract specification, or an agreed sample) and identifies buyers, sellers, and the underlying Registration (Importers and Exporters) Order, 1952 that this regime interacts with.

Section 3 lets the Federal Government appoint an Authority responsible for registering inspection companies. Section 4 lets the government constitute a Pakistan Pre-shipment Inspection Council to provide technical assistance to that Authority.

Section 5 is the central prohibition: no company, organisation, or institution (including a foreign company) that is not registered with the Authority may carry on inspection business or issue a certificate of inspection. Section 6 requires companies already doing inspection work when the Ordinance commenced to register within three months, and requires new entrants to register before starting business, subject to a prescribed fee and prescribed registration conditions.

Section 7 makes unregistered inspection activity an offence punishable with imprisonment up to three years, a fine, or both. Section 8 gives the Ordinance and its rules overriding effect over other laws relating to quality control or buyer's acceptance inspection, while protecting contracts already signed before the Ordinance's commencement and specifications already agreed before any later rule changes.

Section 9 lets the Federal Government delegate its powers to the Council or a subordinate officer or organisation. Section 10 gives rule-making power, generally requiring consultation with the Council for rules made after the first occasion.

This is an older law from 1981, amended in 1982; anyone dealing with pre-shipment inspection registration today should confirm current registration fees, conditions, and the identity of the currently-designated Authority against up-to-date sources.