Parliament approves toughened penalty on agricultural encroachments

CAIRO - 17 October 2022: A draft law, submitted by the Egyptian government, has toughened the penalty imposed on the act of erosion, robbing or building on agricultural acres. 

 

The draft law aims to protect national food security and agricultural land, preserve its fertility, as these violations have direct impact on the national economy, sustainable development and agricultural production.

 

The new amendments to the provisions of the Agriculture Law promulgated by Law No. 53 of 1966 was approved by the House of Representatives.

 

The report of the competent committee said that one of the most important pillars necessary to achieve national food security is the protection and increase of the agricultural area, besides that food security is a pivotal goal for the Egyptian state in light of the steady population increase, and in light of the continued encroachment on agricultural land. 

 

The penalties stipulated in the draft law are:

 

Imprisonment for a period of no less than two years and not more than five years and a fine of no less than five hundred thousand pounds and not more than ten million pounds, and the penalty shall be multiplied by the number of violations, for anyone who violates the provisions of Article 152 of the law.

 

The engineer or contractor supervising the implementation of the violation faces imprisonment for a period of not less than two years and not more than five years and a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pounds and not more than three million pounds.

 

- Halting the membership of the engineer or the contractor at the official Engineers Association or the Contractors Union, for a period not exceeding one year, and in the case of recurrence, the halting will be for the same period of his imprisonment.  

 

- The judgment includes confiscating the machines, tools and supplies used in committing the violation.

 

- The violations stipulated in this article are considered crimes against honor and honesty.

 

- The Minister of Agriculture or whomever he delegates from among the governors may order stopping the causes of the violation.