Plant Quarantine regulatory measures are operative through the ‘Destructive Insects & Pests Act, 1914 (Act 2 of 1914) in the country. The purpose and intent of this Act is to prevent the introduction of any insect, fungus or other pest, which is or may be destructive to crops. The import of agricultural commodities is presently regulated through the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 the provisions of New Policy on Seed Development, 1988. Further, the significance of Plant Quarantine has increased in view of Globalization and liberalization in International trade of plants and plant material in the wake of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement under WTO. The phytosanitary certification of agricultural commodities being exported is also undertaken as per International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), 1951.

In line with the New Policy on Seed Development, 1988 and the provisions of PQ Order, 2003, the specified planting material for propagation (viz., cuttings, saplings, bud woods, etc.) require growing under Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) for a specified period. The import permit for such planting material is granted based on a certificate from Designated

Inspection Authorities of the concerned jurisdiction stating that the importer possesses the post entry quarantine facility for the imported planting material. Such consignments are released with the intimation to the concerned Inspection Authorities for conducting further PEQ inspections and the final clearance is granted based on the PEQ Inspection Report. The pest risk analysis is mandatory for all the plants/plant material prior to its import into India as per PQ Order, 2003. The risk of exotic pests and diseases is minimized by identifying the potential pests which can get into the country with the specified commodity and seeking export certification for their freedom/pest free area status, etc. from the exporting country. Inspection of agricultural commodities meant for export as per the requirements of importing countries under International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 1951 of FAO which’s now replaced by revised text of IPPC as per the model certificates prescribed under IPPC and issue Phytosanitary Certificate. The export inspections are carried out to facilitate certification of exportable plants and plant material as per the requirement of importing country in line with the above Convention. The export inspections involves sampling and detailed laboratory tests in case of seeds and planting material for propagation whereas visual examination with hand lens and washing tests, etc are carried out for plant material meant for consumption. The export inspections are conducted at exporters’ premises also to facilitate exports for agricultural commodities meant for consumption.

As per Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 a total of 60 entry points including 34 seaports, 12 airports and 14 land custom stations are notified points of entry for import of plants and plant material. Besides, 60 Inland Container Depot/Container Freight Station, 11 Foreign Post Offices have also been notified for the entry of plants/plant material under the PQ Order, 2003.

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(i)           Inspection of imported agricultural commodities for preventing the introduction of exotic

       pests and diseases inimical to Indian fauna and flora through implementation of DIP Act,

       1914 and the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 issued there

       under.

(ii)          Inspection of plants and plant material meant for export as per the requirements under

       International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 1951 of FAO to facilitate pest free trade.

(iii)        Detection of exotic pests and diseases for their containment by adopting domestic

       quarantine regulations, if introduced.

 

The ongoing activities assigned under the scheme include:

 

• To issue import permits with additional declarations and special conditions to facilitate  

        safe imports of agricultural products.

 

• To undertake quarantine inspection and laboratory testing of plants and plant material to

 ensure freedom from exotic pests.

• To undertake phytosanitary certification (for issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates

   (PSCs); 150 Nos. of Officers from Central/ State/ UT Governments have been authorized

   for this purpose.

   

• To undertake fumigation/disinfestations/disinfections of commodities to control

infestation/infection.

 

• To undertake certification of post-entry quarantine facilities and inspection of imported

 growing plants and plant material; 41 Nos. of Inspection Authorities have been

 designated.

 

• To support Export market access for India’s Agriculture products from the phytosanitary

point of view.

 

• To facilitate safe global trade in agriculture by assisting the producers and exporters by

providing a technically competent and reliable phytosanitary certificate system to meet

the requirements of trading partners.

 

• To provide Grants-in-aid to Designated Inspection Authorities to meet the travel expenses

and also to State PSC issuing authorities for equipping them with minimal equipments

required for export inspection/certification.

 

• Granting approval/accreditation of Treatment providers in line with the requirement of

ISPM-15.

 

• To undertake PRAs of different agricultural commodities with respect to their import or

export in relation to the countries concerned.

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Presently, there are 35 Plant quarantine Stations at different International Airports, Seaports and Land frontiers implementing the Plant Quarantine regulations with its headquarters at Faridabad. The list of existing Plant Quarantine Stations is at Annexure-I.

Annexure-I

List of Existing Plant Quarantine Stations (35) and their categorization based on the current PQ activities.

Category I Stations

            1.  Agartala

          2.  Guwahati

          3.  Raxaul

          4.  Sanauli

          5.  Banbasa

          6.  Rupaidiha

          7.  Jogbani

          8.  Attari-Wagah Border - Rly. Stn. (working unit under RPQS Amritsar)

          9.  Amritsar Rly. Stn (working unit under RPQS, Amritsar)

          10. ICD Tughlakabad (working unit under NPQS, Delhi)

          11. Air Cargo, Delhi Airport (working unit under NPQS, Delhi)

          12. Calicut Airport

Category II Stations

          13. Panitanki

          14. Kalimpong

          15. Trivandrum

          16. Tiruchirapalli

          17. Bhavnagar

          18. Hyderabad

          19. Attari-Wagah Border - LCS (working unit under  RPQS, Amritsar)

          20. Air Cargo, Mumbai (working unit under RPQS, Mumbai)

          21. Air Cargo, Kolkata (working unit under RPQS, Kolkata)

Category III Stations

          22. Kandla

          23. Visakhapatnam

          24. Tuticorin

          25. Cochin

          26. Kakinada

          27. Nava Sheva

          28. Mangalore

          29. Bongaon

Category IV Stations

30.  New Delhi

31.  Amritsar

32.  Chennai

33.  Kolkata

34.  Mumbai

35.  Bangalor

Station made functional by deputing staff from other places.

Annexure-II

Annexure-III

Annexure-IV

List of Inspection Authorities for Certification of Post entry quarantine facilities and inspection of growing plants