PART IV.

Examination of Consignments of potatoes.

22. —(1) Any person who desires to sell as seed potatoes the whole or any part of a crop of potatoes grown by him may request the Minister to have such crop inspected while growing and on such request being made the Minister may, if he thinks fit, cause such crop to be inspected by an inspector.

(2) If on inspection of any crop of potatoes under the foregoing sub-section, the inspector is satisfied that such potatoes or part thereof are suitable for seed potatoes, such inspector shall issue a certificate (in this Act referred to as a certificate of suitability) in the prescribed form that such crop or such part thereof as is specified in such certificate is suitable for seed potatoes.

23. —The Minister may from time to time by order make regulations (in this Act referred to as examination regulations) in relation to the following matters, that is to say:—

(a) the method of examination by inspectors of consignments of potatoes submitted by licensed exporters to such inspectors for examination;

(b) the conditions (in this Act referred to as the conditions of suitability) with which such consignments must comply in order to be passed by such inspectors as suitable for consignment;

(c) the form design and material of the seal (in this Act referred to as the official seal) to be placed on every package containing seed potatoes comprised in a consignment which has been so passed as suitable for consignment and the manner in which such seal is to be placed on such package;

(d) the form design and material of the fastener (in this Act referred to as the official fastener) to be fastened to every package containing ware potatoes comprised in a consignment which has been so passed as suitable for consignment and the manner in which such fastener is to be fastened to such package.

24. —(1) The Minister may arrange for the examination by inspectors of consignments of potatoes at such places, and on such days and at such hours, as he may from time to time determine.

(2) Whenever a consignment of potatoes is submitted to an inspector for examination, such inspector shall, unless prohibited by this section from examining such consignment, examine such consignment and shall carry out such examination in accordance with the method prescribed by the examination regulations and if but only if, on such examination he is satisfied that such consignment complies with the conditions of suitability he shall—

(a) if the potatoes in such consignment are seed potatoes, seal each package in such consignment with the official seal;

(b) if the potatoes in such consignment are ware potatoes, fasten each package in such consignment with the official fastener.

(3) An inspector shall not examine any consignment of seed potatoes submitted to him for examination under this section unless there is produced to him at the time of such submission a certificate of suitability in respect of the potatoes contained in such consignment.

(4) Neither an official seal nor an official fastener sealed or fastened to a package of potatoes shall be deemed to be or construed in any way as a warranty of such potatoes, nor shall any liability attach to the Minister in respect of any such seal or fastener.

25. —(1) Whenever a licensed exporter proposes to export in one lot a particular number of packages of seed potatoes which an inspector has sealed with the official seal and so informs such inspector, such inspector shall, at the request of such licensed exporter, issue in respect of such lot a certificate (in this Act referred to as a consignment certificate) certifying the number of packages (to be specified therein) of seed potatoes in such lot which have been sealed with the said seal.

(2) Whenever a licensed exporter proposes to export in one lot a particular number of packages of ware potatoes which an inspector has fastened with the official fastener and so informs such inspector, such inspector shall, at the request of such licensed exporter, issue in respect of such lot a certificate (in this Act also referred to as a consignment certificate) certifying the number of packages (to be specified therein) of ware potatoes in such lot which have been fastened with the said fastener.