(1) As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the Central Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute for the purposes of this Act a Board to be called the  Rubber Board.
(2) The Board shall be a body corporate by the name of  Rubber Board having perpetual
succession and a common seal with power to acquire and hold property, both movable and immovable and to contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
[(3) The Board shall consist of—
(a) a Chairman to be appointed by the Central Government;
[(b) two members to represent the State of  Tamil Nadu], one of whom shall be a person
representing rubber producing interests;
(c) eight members to represent the State of Kerala, six of whom shall be persons representing the rubber producing interests, three of such six being persons representing the small growers;
(d) ten members to be nominated by the Central Government, of whom two shall represent the manufacturers and four labours;
(da) three members to be nominated by the Central Government of whom two shall be from the Department of Commerce and one from the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation;
(e) three members of Parliament of whom two shall be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States; and
(ee) the Executive Director, ex officio; and
(f) the Rubber Production Commissioner, ex officio.
(4) The persons to represent the States of  [Tamil Nadu] and [Kerala] shall be elected or nominated as may be prescribed.
(5) Any officer of the Central Government when deputed by that Government in this behalf shall have the right to attend the meetings of the Board and take part in the proceedings thereof but shall not be entitled to vote.
(6) The Board shall elect from among its members a Vice-Chairman who shall exercise such of the powers, and perform such of the functions of the Chairman as may be prescribed or as may be delegated to him by the Chairman.
(7) The members of the Board shall receive from the Board such allowances as may be prescribed.
(8) It is hereby declared that the office of member of the Board shall not disqualify its holder for being chosen as, or for being, a member of either House of Parliament.
8. Functions of the Board.—(1) It shall be the duty of the Board to promote by such measures as it thinks fit the development of the rubber industry
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the measures referred to therein may provide for—
(a) undertaking, assisting or encouraging scientific, technological and economic research;
(b) training students in improved methods of planting, cultivation, manuring and spraying;
(c) the supply of technical advice to rubber growers;
(d) improving the marketing of rubber;
[(da) improving the quality of rubber and implementing the standards for quality marking, labeling and packing for the rubber produced or processed in, imported into or exported from, India;]
(e) the collection of statistics from owners of estates, dealers, and manufacturers;
[(f) securing better working conditions and the provisions and improvement of amenities and incentives for workers;
(g) carrying out any other duties which may be vested in the Board under rules made under this Act.
(3) It shall also be the duty of the Board—
(a) to advise the Central Government on all matters relating to the development of the rubber industry, including the import and export of rubber;
(b) to advice the Central Government with regard to participation in any international Conference or scheme relating to rubber;
(c) to submit to the Central Government and such other authorities as may be prescribed
[half-yearly reports] on its activities and the working of this Act;
(d) to prepare and furnish such other reports relating to the rubber industry as may be required by the Central Government from time to time.
14. Licensing of transactions in rubber.—No person shall sell or otherwise dispose of and no person shall buy or otherwise acquire, rubber except under and in accordance with the terms of a general or special licence issued by the Board:
