CHAPTER 65:08
NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
Preliminary

    1.    Short title

    2.    Interpretation

PART II
Establishment and Functions of the National Meteorological Service

    3.    Establishment of Service

    4.    Powers and functions of Service

PART III
Licensing Committee

    5.    Establishment of Committee

    6.    Functions of the Committee

    7.    Membership of the Committee

PART IV
Licensing and Registration of Private Operators of Meteorological Services

    8.    Application for licence

    9.    Revocation, suspension and endorsement of licence

    10.    Appeals Committee

    11.    Disclosure of interest

    12.    Confidentiality

    13.    Register to be kept

PART V
Miscellaneous

    14.    Appointment of inspectors

    15.    Intellectual property rights

    16.    Limitation of liability

    17.    Offences and penalties

    18.    Regulations

    19.    Repeal

    20.    Transitional provisions

Act 5, 2009,
Act 15, 2014,
S.I. 77, 2014.

An Act to provide for the establishment of the National Meteorological Service; to provide for its powers and functions and to provide for related matters.

[Date of Commencement: 12th June, 2014]

PART I
Preliminary (ss 1-2)

1.    Short title

    This Act may be cited as the National Meteorological Service Act.

2.    Interpretation

    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

    "commercial services" means any of the following—

    (a)    the provision of specialised weather forecasting and climate information services;

    (b)    the provision of aviation meteorological services;

    (c)    weather and climate related publications;

    (d)    meteorological services including advice to the legal and to the insurance industry;

    (e)    contracted weather and climate-related research;

    (f)    research to improve commercial services;

    (g)    the dissemination of weather and climate information;

    (h)    the manufacturing and selling of meteorological equipment to Government departments and users from the private sector, as well as the calibration, servicing, repairing and standardisation of equipment falling within the competence of the National Meteorological Service;

    (i)    the provision of specialised services to the media; or

    (j)    commercial services provided on an ad hoc basis to Government departments;

    "Committee" means the Meteorological Licensing Committee established under section 5;

    "Director" means the Director of the National Meteorological Service;

    "forecast" means a statement of probable future weather or climate condition within a particular area over a certain time period;

    "hydrological phenomena" means those limnological and oceanographical phenomena which are in close relation to the meteorological phenomena;

    "member" means a member of the Committee and includes the Chairperson of the Committee;

    "meteorological data" means any information that determines the state or conditions of the atmosphere as recorded by any meteorological instrument on earth;

    "meteorological instruments" means instruments, machines or devices which are used for the observation of meteorological, terrestrial and hydrological phenomena;

    "meteorological observation" means systematic observation and measurement of the atmospheric physical processes, phenomena and chemical properties in the atmosphere and surface layer by scientific properties in the atmosphere and surface layer by scientific and technological means;

    "meteorological phenomena" means phenomena in the atmosphere except the ionosphere;

    "meteorological service" means service rendered to economic and social activities relating to weather and climate;

    "public good service" means any of the following—

    (a)    the gathering of meteorological observation data;

    (b)    the carrying out of those international obligations agreed under the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) agreements, including the international distribution of data and acting as Regional Instruments Centre;

    (c)    the provision of other meteorological services and the representation of Government in the fulfilment of international obligations, where appropriate;

    (d)    the provision of weather and climate forecasting and warning services intended for the general benefit of the population and the safety of life and property;