The Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914

1[(1)] This Act may be called the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914. 2[(2) It extends to the whole of India 3***.]

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-- (a) "crops" includes all agricultural or horticultural crops 1[and all trees, bushes or plants]; (b) "import" means the bringing or taking by sea, 2[land or air] 3[across any customs frontier as definedby the Central Government]; 4*** (c) "infection" means infection by any insect, fungus or other pest injurious to a crop; 5*** 6* * * * *

(1)The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibit or regulate, subject to suchrestrictions and conditions as it may impose, the import into 1[India], or any part thereof, or any specifiedplace therein, of any article or class of articles likely to cause infection to any crop 2[or of insects generallyor any class of insects]. (2) A notification under this section may specify any article or class of articles 2[or any insect or class ofinsects], either generally or in any particular manner, whether with reference to the country of origin or theroute by which imported or otherwise. 3[(3) The Central Government may, by notification under this section, also levy and collect such fees atsuch rates and in such manner as may be specified therein for making an application for a permit to import, orfor making inspection, fumigation, disinfection, disinfestation or supervision of, any article or class of articlesof any insect or class of insects under this section].

A notification under section 3 shall operate as if it hadbeen issued under section 19 of the Sea Customs Act, 1878 (8 of 1878), and the officers of Customs at everyport shall have the same powers in respect of any article with regard to the importation of which such anotification has been issued as they have for the time being in respect of any article the importation of whichis regulated, restricted or prohibited by the law relating to Sea Customs, and the law for the time being inforce relating to Sea Customs or any such article shall apply accordingly.

1[4A. Power of Central Government to regulate or prohibit transport from State to State of insectsor articles likely to infect.--The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, prohibitor regulate, subject to such conditions as the Central Government may impose, the export from a State or thetransport from one State to another State 2*** of any article or class of articles likely to cause infection to anycrop or of insects generally or any class of insects.]