‘The New Plant

Quarantine Order’

INDIA
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF INDIAN PLANT
QUARANTINE STRUCTURE
G O V E R N M E N T O F IN D IA

M IN IS TR Y O F A G R IC U L TU R E

D E P A R TM E N T O F A G R IC U L TU R E & C O O P E R A TIO N

D IR E C TO R A TE O F P L A N T P R O TE C TIO N , Q U A R A N TIN E & S TO R A G E

F A R ID A B A D

In teg rate d P lan t P es ticid e L ocu st H u m an R es ou rce

P est Q u ara n tin e R eg u lation C on trol D evelop m en t
M a n ag em en t (3 3 S tation s) (5 C ircle O ffices (N P P TI, H yd erab ad )
(2 6 S tation s) & 2 3 O u tp os ts)

C en tral S ec retariat of R eg ion al P es ticid es

In s ec tic id es C en tral In s ec tic id es Testin g
L ab oratory B oard /R eg istration L ab oratories
C om m ittee (2 L ab oratories)
 Primary concerns of the
Government of India
 To prevent the introduction & spread of exotic pests
that are destructive to the country by regulating the
import of plants/plant products through adequate
policy and statutory measures.
 To support India’s agricultural exports through
credible export certification.
 To facilitate safe global trade in agriculture by assisting
producers, exporters & importers and by providing a
technically comprehensive & credible Phyto-sanitary
Certification.
 A Background of hitherto existing
P.Q. Statute and Regulations..(2)
 Plant Quarantine Regulatory Measures in India operate
on the basis of ‘The Destructive Insects & Pests Act,
1914’ promulgated to prevent introduction and spread
of destructive pests affecting crops. Rules promulgated
for regulating import of live insects in1941; of fungi in
1943; and of cotton in 1972.
 New Seed Policy, 1988 , formulated in 1988 to provide
access to best available seeds and planting material to
Indian farmers, domestic & imported.
 ‘The Plants, Fruits & Seeds (Regulation of Import into
India Order, 1989’, notified for prohibiting and
regulating the import into India of plants/ plant
materials and the like, based on post-entry Quarantine
checks. This order is being replaced by the new Plant
Quarantine Order’2003
 Why a new Plant Quarantine
Regulation?
 Liberalised trade in agriculture, a fallout of the WTO
Agreements, albeit offering wide economic
opportunities, also implied fresh challenges of
amplified pest risks, a corollary to the increased
volumes and array of international agricultural
commodity trade.
 With diverse Agro-Climatic zones, varied agricultural
produce and surplus food production, India finds itself
in a position to exponentially expand its agriculture
trade, but what was required was accredit able
National Standards for all critical Phyto-sanitary
activities. Need for compliance with stringent
International Phyto-sanitary Regulations was felt
invariably and continually.
 Why a new Plant Quarantine
Regulation?....contd..(1)
 Urgent need to fill-up the gaps in existing PFS order viz.,
regulating import of Germplasm/ GMO’s/ Transgenic
plant material; Live Insects/Fungi including Bio-control
Agents etc.
 To facilitate safe conducting of global trade in
agriculture and thereby fulfill India’s legal obligations
under the international agreements
 To protect the interest of the country’s farmers by
preventing the entry, establishment and spread of
destructive pests, vectors and alien species.
 To protect the national plant life and environment
 To safeguard the national bio-diversity from threats of
alien specie invasions.
 Why a new Plant Quarantine
Regulation?....contd..(2)
 The need was being felt for incorporation of
Additional/ Special Declarations for freedom
of Import commodities. from Quarantine and
Alien pests, on the basis of Standardized Pest
Risk Analysis, particularly for seed/planting
materials.

 Need was felt for review of the existing Import

phytosanitary requirements for several other
agricultural commodities as also for a
comprehensive notification to cover imports of
Germplasm/ GMO’s/ Transgenic plant
materials; Live insects & Microbial cultures
including Bio-control agents.
 Salient Features of New PQ
Order
 Scope of P.Q. activities widened with incorporation of
additional definitions.

 P.R.A. made condition-precedent for imports.

 Prohibition on import of commodities with weed/ alien species

contamination; & restriction on import of packaging material of
plant origin unless treated.

 Provisions included for regulating the import of:-

# Soil, Peat & Sphagnum moss.

# Germplasm/ GMOs/ Transgenic material for research.
# Live insects/ Microbial cultures & Bio-control agents.
# Import of timber & wooden logs.
 Salient features of PQ Order-
Contd.(1)

 Agricultural imports classified as (a) –Prohibited

plant species; (b)- Restricted species where import
permitted only by authorised institutions; (c)-
Restricted species permitted only with additional
declarations of freedoms from Quarantine/
Regulated pests and subject to specified treatment
certifications and ; (D)- Plant material imported for
consumption/industrial processing permitted with
normal PSC.
 Permit requirement enforced on imports of seeds
including flower seeds, propagating material and
mushroom spawn cultures
 Salient features of PQ Order-Contd.
(2)
 Additional declarations being specified in the
Order for import of 144 agricultural
commodities, specifically listing as many as 590
Quarantine Pests and 61 Weed species.

 Notified Points of entry being increased

dramatically to 130 from the existing 59.

 Certification fee and Inspection Charges’

structure being rationalised.
 Harmony with the IPPC
 The proposed phyto-sanitary measures are designed to
prevent global spread of noxious pests and are based on
justified scientific principles with PRA as cornerstone.
 Provisions made applicable to packages and transportation..
 Inspection/Certification to be as per IPPC Article- IV.
 Phyto-sanitary Certificates to be in the IPPC Article-V
format and as per P.Q. requirements of importing country,
and to be issued after careful inspection and the required
treatment.
 Emphasis on capacity enhancement and
development/training of staff.
 The order will be put on our website and will be accessible
to one and all and will be transparent and shall apply
uniformly to all exporting countries/ parties.
 Issue of the Import Permits

 Different formats devised for applications for issue of

Import Permit for consumption and for propagative
materials.
 Commercial import of seeds of Coarse cereals/
Pulses/ Oil seeds/Fodder crops & planting materials
of Fruit plant species to require prior clearance.
 Applications for seeds/planting material required to
be accompanied by a registration certificate issued
by :-
(1) National Seeds Corporation/ Director of
Agriculture/ Horticulture of State Government and;
(2) Certificate of approval of PEQ facilities by the
Designated Inspection Authority.
 Procedures for issue of Permit-
Contd..

 Separate Permit formats introduced for Consumption

and Propagative plant materials, and to be issued
within a maximum period of 3 working days of
submission of an application..
 Pre-import finalization of P.R.A. made compulsory for
certain commodities, where P.R.A.has not been done
in the country.
 Permits for import of soil/peat and for import of Live
Insects/ Microbial cultures and Bio-control agents to
be issued only by the. Plant Protection Adviser, the
technical head of PQ service in the country.
 Permits for import of Germplasm/ GMOs/ Transgenic
plants to be issued by Director, National Bureau of
Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi
 Procedures for issue of
permit-----Contd…
 Permits issued to be valid for six months and
further extendible by another six months.

 Permits not transferable and no permits to

issued for landed consignments.

 Relaxations from conditions of the Order,

necessitated by emergency & unforeseen
circumstances, to wrest with the Union
Ministry of Agriculture
Initiatives and Activities envisaged for
Upgradation/Strengthening PQ facilities

 35 new PQ Stations to be opened across the country

by year 2005 at all major and minor ports.
 Development of -
 Integrated Information Management System

 Integrated Pest Risk Analysis System and

establishment of National PRA unit for
conducting Integrated Pest Surveillance.
 Integrated Phyto-sanitary Border Control System

 National Phyto-sanitary Database.

 National Management Centre for Phyto-sanitary

Certification to continuously review the national

standards for export Phyto-sanitary certification.
 Initiatives/Activities for Upgradation/
Strengthening PQ facilities-Contd…(1)
 Establishment of advanced Molecular Diagnostic
facilities at Major P.Q. Stations for rapid pathogen
detection
 Computerization and Networking of all the P. Q.
Stations
 Standardization of Export Certification process so that
uniform and credible certificates, with common format
and seal are issued by all PSC issuing authorities, both
in Central and State Governments, across the country.
 Human resource development and skill upgradation/
training programmes for Scientists,Researchers and
others.
 Obtaining ISO Quality certification for major PQ
Stations
 Initiatives/Activities for Upgradation/
Strengthening PQ facilities-Contd…(2)
 Guidelines for training of PQ Inspectors
 Guidelines for the development of new
disinfestation techniques and vapour heat
treatment of fruit fly host commodities.
 Development of fumigants as alternative to the
ozone depleting Methyl Bromide.
 Development of International Standards for
Phyto-sanitary Measures (ISPM)
 Guidelines planned for accreditation of post
entry quarantine facilities and inspection.
 Action Plan for Pest Risk Analysis
starting December 2003
 Establishment of a National PRA Unit within
six months
 Organising PRA training/ Workshop
involving National/ International experts for
prioritizing crops/commodities for
undertaking PRA and Establishing working
groups-Next six months
 Development of programme links-2months
 Development of pest data base for new 39
commodities by June, 2004.
 Development of detailed PRA for the above
39 commodities within plan period, 13
commodities yearly.
Crops to be taken up for PRA on
priority
Strawberry Banana Kiwi Musk Melon Water Melon Pears
Mandarin Cashew nut Apple
Grape Citrus fruits Lentil
Red Beans Chick Pea Jute Black Gram Green gram Cotton
 Crops to be taken up for PRA on
priority
Wheat Rice Barley
Maize Baby Corn Pearl millet
Sorghum Lettuce Garlic
Broccoli Potato Chinese Cabbage
Mustard Sunflower Safflower
Linseed Castor Rape seed
 POLICY FOR THE CONTROL OF
NATIONAL INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES
 The national IPM Programme is the mechanism to prevent
and control the threat posed by Invasive Alien Species
within the country.
 System of Domestic Quarantine exists and is used when
required.
 There is growing involvement of State Govts, NGOs,
Private Sector, Research institutions and Farmer Self-help
groups for surveillance and detection of pests/ diseases
and for taking eco- friendly corrective action within the IPM
scheme.
 Locust/ Migratory Locust is a menace for the Asian region
and we have active coordination with FAO and our
neighboring countries for surveillance, early detection and
control measures for the same. There has been no major
incidence reported in the region this year
 POLICY FOR THE CONTROL OF
NATIONAL INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES.(2)
 A peculiar cyclic problem reported from North-Eastern
parts of India, relates to unexplained but sudden surge
in rodent population and activity after an interval of
every few years. The menace a peak is simultaneous
with Gregarious Bamboo Flowering. The said problem
has already surfaced and is likely to peak by 2006-2007,
causing loss of crop. Research and preventive control
measures are in full swing. Being studied are the rodent
characteristics, damage capacity, pathways associated
and environment friendly control strategy , also using the
traditional knowledge of the local agrarian community of
the region. This problem is thankfully confined to a small
hilly region of the country.
 POLICY FOR THE CONTROL OF
NATIONAL INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES.(3)
 Research being conducted to study impact of Climate Change
on threat of Invasive Alien Species; Being given greater
importance since serious White Woolly Aphid infestation of
Sugarcane crop in parts of peninsular India in 2002, which
caused substantial crop damage and losses. This pest had,
previously, never infested Sugarcane in India and therefore
was a surprise infestation.
The task of research, future prevention and control measures
being handled by Ministry of Agriculture in coordination with
other Central Govt. Departments, concerned State Govts, ICAR,
other research institutions and Agriculture Universities, Private
Sector and Sugar Factories.
Albeit, the worst is over and severity of the White-Woolly
Aphid, recorded last year in over 200,000 ha of Sugarcane, has
reduced substantially this year. However, almost 75000 ha of
the crop is still infested and continues to be a matter of concern.