The Agricultural Produce Act, which became effective yesterday, now makes it illegal to transport large quantities of agricultural produce and livestock without a certified receipt.

"What this means is that the use of the agricultural receipt book will be compulsory and it will be the evidence used by farmers and buyers to prove that the goods were legally obtained," Senator Norman Grant, president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) explained.

Persons who are found in violation of the act could be fined up to $250,000 or six months in jail.

Under the recently-amended Agricultural Produce Act, persons could face penalties for illegally transporting crops and livestock, including bovines (cows and bulls), goats, sheep, dogs (farm and working dogs), all types of fish and poultry, eggs, honey, honeycombs and peacocks.

The Act was amended to bolster efforts against the prevalence of praedial larceny, which is estimated to cost the sector some $4 billion annually.