Agriculture Act No. 4 of 2021. Country/Territory Cook Islands Document type Regulation Date 2021 Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to repeal the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act 1978 and provide for the responsible Ministry to have adequate powers to obtain information and prevent adverse effects on agriculture. Subject Agricultural & rural development, Livestock, Food & nutrition, Forestry, Cultivated plants Keyword Agricultural development Basic legislation Access-to-information Apiculture/sericulture Authorization/permit Biosecurity Business/industry/corporations Capacity building Certification Crops/grasses Data collection/reporting Pests/diseases Agricultural extension Farming Fiscal and market measures Genetic resources Inspection Institution Internal trade International trade Local government Monitoring Offences/penalties Pesticides Public health Public participation Research Risk assessment/management Sustainable development Food quality control/food safety Drugs Afforestation/reforestation Forest management/forest conservation Animal health Animal welfare Animal production Fertilizers/nutrients Plant production Plant protection Planting material/seeds Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Oceania, Polynesia, Small Island Developing States, South Pacific Entry into force notes This Act enters into force on the day after the date it is assented to by the Queen's Representative. Abstract This Act lays down rules for the purposes of (a) providing for the development of sustainable agricultural practices, (b) collecting data in relation to agriculture, (c) regulating the agriculture industry, (d) providing for inspectors and specify their powers and the procedures they must follow, (e) enabling the regulatory regime in this Act to apply throughout the Cook Islands, and (f) enabling the establishment of specific advisory committees to assist with the carrying out of functions under this Act. This Act sets out provisions on the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry and its committees; data collection to measure agricultural production, identify or measure a risk to agricultural production, take informed responses to invasive species outbreaks or other plant or animal emergencies; the appointment of data collectors; the appointment and powers of the inspectors to carry out their functions in accordance with the provisions of the Pesticides Act and the Biosecurity Act; and offences and penalties and their prosecution. Other acts administered by the Ministry are set out in Schedule 1 and the amendments to other Acts are set out in Schedule 2, which are annexed to this Act. The functions of the Ministry include but not limited to: (I) encouraging sustainable agricultural production, such as the production of crops, livestock, and pollinators, managing crop and livestock genetic resources, and protecting the welfare of livestock and other farmed animals; (II) regulating agricultural health and improving the biosecurity status of the Cook Islands in accordance with the Biosecurity Act; (III) regulating pesticides in accordance with the Pesticides Act; (IV) supporting the relevant ministry with responsibility for food safety legislation, initiatives, and policy; (V) undertaking agricultural research and development; (VI) developing plans, policies, and strategies for the agricultural sector at the national and islands levels; (VII) supporting the marketing and use of agricultural inputs, including pesticides, crop seeds, fertilizers and veterinary drugs; (VIII) developing quality certification schemes and value chains for the agricultural sector; (IX) supporting stakeholders' participation in agriculture; (X) managing forestry and promoting afforestation and reforestation; (XI) providing advisory and extension services and institutional capacity development; (XII) facilitating access to finance and investment and partnerships in the agricultural sector; (XIII) facilitating access to domestic and overseas markets for agricultural products; (XIV) monitoring and assessing the agricultural sector, including through the collection, assessment, and reporting of agricultural data and statistics. Full text English Website parliament.gov.ck References - Legislation Repeals Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Act 1978 (No. 13 of 1978). Legislation | Cook Islands | 1978 Keyword: Agricultural development, Institution Source: FAO, FAOLEX