Plant quarantine and phytosanitary certification

The word quarantine derives from the Italian word “quaranti giorni”, meaning ‘about fourty days’. After the Black Death arrived in Europe in 1347, observation and experience showed that the incubation time for the disease, from infection to the appearance of symptoms, was a little less than 40 days.
Plant quarantine is defined as the legal enforcement of the measures aimed to prevent pests from spreading or to prevent them from multiplying further in case, they have already gained entry and have established in new restricted areas.
The importance of imposing restrictions on the movement of pest-infested plants or plant materials from one country to another was realized by Ireland famine 1845, the late blight pathogen (Phytophthora infestans) introduced into Ireland from Central
America resulted in almost total failure of the potato crop, the grapevine phylloxera was introduced into France from America around 1860, and the San Jose scale spread into the US in the latter part of the eighteenth century and caused severe damage. The first international plant protection convention (IPPC), the Phylloxera convention was signed at Berne on 3 November 1881 by five countries. This convention remained in force till 1951, when International Plant Protection Convention under FAO was established at Rome. This agreement was constituted with the purpose of securing common and effective action to prevent the introduction and spread of pests and diseases of plants and plant products.
The first Quarantine Act in the US came into force on 1905, while India passed an act in 1914 entitled “Destructive Insect and Pests Act of 1914”. This was later supplemented by a more comprehensive act in 1917.

1. Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Certification

2. The word quarantine derives from the Italian word “ quaranti giorni ” , meaning ‘about fourty days’. After the Black Death arrived in Europe in 1347, observation and experience showed that the incubation time for the disease, from infection to the appearance of symptoms, was a little less than 40 days.

3. WHAT IS PLANT QUARANTINE? It is defined as the legal enforcement of the measures aimed to prevent pests from spreading or to prevent them from multiplying further in case, they have already gained entry and have established in new restricted areas.

4. IMPOSING OF RESTRICTIONS STARTED FROM

5. T he grapevine  phylloxera  was introduced into France from America around 1860, and the  San Jose scale   spread into the US in the latter part of the eighteenth century and caused severe damage. The first international plant protection convention (IPPC), the Phylloxera convention was signed at Berne on 3 November 1881 by five countries.  This convention remained in force till 1951, when International Plant Protection Convention under FAO was established at Rome. This agreement was constituted with the purpose of securing common and effective action to prevent the  introduction  and spread of pests and diseases of plants and plant products.

6. HISTORY OF PLANT QUARANTINE IN INDIA Destructive Insects and Pests Act, (DIP Act) was developed on February 3, 1914. Over the years the DIP Act was revised and amended several times. However, it needs to be periodically reviewed and amended to meet the growing requirements of liberalized trade under the WTO. Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage , under the ministry of Food and Agriculture were setup in 1946 and Plant quarantine activity stared in 1946 with the initiation of plant introduction scheme in the Botany Division at Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi.

7. HISTORY OF PLANT QUARANTINE IN INDIA Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) started in October 1949 at Bombay seaport. First plant Quarantine and Fumigation station in India was formally inaugurated on December 25, 1951. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resource (NBPGR) was created in August, 1976. Division of Plant Quarantine was created in 1978, with Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology sections. In October, 1988, the Plants, Fruits and seeds (Regulation of Import into India) order, 1989 popularly known as PFS order came into force. Plant Quarantine Order came into existence on 2003.

8. NEED OF PLANT QUARANTINE To prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests that are destructive to the country by regulating the import of plants/ plant products through policy and statutory measures. To support agricultural exports through credible export certification. To facilitate safe global trade in agriculture by assisting producers, exporters and importers and by providing a technically comprehensive and credible phytosanitary certification.

9. TYPES OF QUARANTINE Rules and regulations issued prohibiting the movement of insects, weeds and diseases from one state to another in India is called domestic quarantine. Rules and regulations issued prohibiting the movement of insects, weeds and diseases from foreign countries is called International Quarantine .

10. PLANT QUARANTINE FACILITIES IN INDIA 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 issued under DIP Act, 1914 incorporating the provisions of New Policy on Seed Development, 1988. Further, the significance of Plant Quarantine has increased in view of Globalisation and liberalisation in International trade of plants and plant material in the wake of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement under WTO.

11. The phytosanitary certification of agricultural commodities being exported is also undertaken through the scheme as per International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) , 1951.  Further GOI has approved NBPGR, New Delhi for quarantine processing of all germplasm including transgenic planting material under exchange for research purposes. Forest Research Institute, Dehradun for forest plants. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for ornamental plants to enforce quarantine laws.

12. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF DIP ACT To prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests that are destructive to crops by regulating/restricting the import of plants/plant products and 2. 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.

13. MAJOR ACTIVITIES UNDER DIP ACT Inspection of imported agricultural commodities for preventing the introduction of exotic pests and diseases inimical to Indian Fauna and Flora. Inspection of agricultural commodities meant for export as per the requirements of importing countries under International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Detection of exotic pests and diseases already introduced for containing/ controlling them by adopting domestic quarantine regulations. Undertaking Post Entry Quarantine Inspection in respect of identified planting materials. Conducting the Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) to finalise phytosanitary requirements for import of plant/plant material.

14. AGENCIES INVOLVED IN PLANT QUARANTINE The authority to implement the quarantine rules and regulation formed under DIP Act rest basically with the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS), under the ministry of Agriculture. The organization handles bulk import and export of seed and planting material for commercial purposes. Presently there are totally 35 different quarantine stations located 10 at Airports (Amritsar, Bombay, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi, Patna, Tiruchuripally , Trivandrum, Varanasi), 9 at Seaports (Bhavnagar, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, Nagapatnam , Rameshwaram , Tuticorin, Vishakapatnam , Chennai) and 7 at Land Frontiers (Amritsar railway station, Attari-Wagha Border, Attari Railway station, Bongaon - Benapol border, Gede Road railway station, Panitanki , Kalimpong ).

15. INSPECTION PROCDURES IN QUARANTINE STATIONS Visual inspection, X-ray test, washing test, Sedimentation test, Incubation test, Grow out test, Serological methods: ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay) (b) DIBA (Dot Immuno-binding Assay) (c) ISEM (Immuno- sorbant Electron Micro Scopy ) (d) Latex agglutination test, Nucleic acid hybridization and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

16. PLANT QUARANTINE METHODS There are number of plant quarantine methods which are used separately or collectively to prevent or retard the introduction and establishment of exotic pests and pathogens. The components of plant quarantine activities are: 1. Complete embargoes: It involves absolute prohibition or exclusion of specified plants and plant products from a country infected or infested with highly destructive pests or diseases that could be transmitted by the plant or plant products under consideration and against which no effective plant quarantine treatment can be applied or is not available for application.

17. 2. Partial embargoes : Partial embargoes, applying when a pest or disease of quarantine importance to an importing country is known to occur only in well-defined area of the exporting country and an effectively operating internal plant quarantine service exists that is able to contain the pest or disease within this area. 3. Inspection and treatment at point of origin : It involves the inspection and treatment of a given commodity when it originates from a country where pest/disease of quarantine importance to importing country is known to occur. 4. Inspection and certification at point of origin : It involves pre-shipment inspection by the importing country in cooperation with exporting country and certification in accordance with quarantine requirements of importing country.

18. 5. Inspection at the point of entry : It involves inspection of plant material immediately upon arrival at the prescribed port of entry and if necessary subject to treatment before the same related. 6. Utilization of post entry plant quarantine facilities : It involves growing of introduced plant propagating material under isolated or confined conditions.

19. PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATION

20. A  Phytosanitary Certificate   is an official document required when shipping regulated articles such as plants, plant products and other regulated articles are traded internationally. A  P hyto certificate  is an official document that is generated from the exporting country's Department of horticulture, agriculture, food or water resources . Phytosanitary certification is used to attest that consignments meet phytosanitary (regarding plants) import requirements . Phytosanitary certification contributes to the protection of plants, including cultivated and uncultivated/unmanaged plants and wild flora (including aquatic plants), habitats and ecosystems in the importing countries. Phytosanitary certification is undertaken by an NPPO . A phytosanitary certificate for export or for re-export can be issued only by a public officer who is technically qualified and duly authorized by an NPPO.

21. Phytosanitary certification also facilitates international trade in plants, plant products and other regulated articles by providing an internationally agreed document and related procedures. Article V.2(a) of the IPPC stipulates how phytosanitary certificates should be issued. NPPOs shall use the model phytosanitary certificates of the IPPC. If the required phytosanitary information exceeds the space available on the phytosanitary certificates, an attachment may be added with this information. Phytosanitary certificates should accompany the consignment or may be transmitted by mail or other means, or where agreed between countries, NPPOs may use electronic phytosanitary certificates, using standardized language, structure of the message and exchange protocols.

22. PURPOSE OF PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATE The purpose of the PC is to indicate that the consignments of plants, plant products and other regulated articles meet the specified phytosanitary requirements of the importing country and are in conformity with the certifying statement of the appropriate model certificate. It is an official document issued by the exporting country’s plant protection authority to the importing countries plant protection authority.

23. TYPES OF PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES There are two types of certificates: a “phytosanitary certificate for export” purposes and a “phytosanitary certificate for re-export” purposes. A phytosanitary certificate for export is usually issued by the NPPO of the country of origin where the plants, plant products or regulated articles were grown or processed. A phytosanitary certificate for export may also be issued in certain re-export situations for plants, plant products and other regulated articles originating in countries other than the country of re-export if compliance with the phytosanitary import requirements can be attested by the country of re-export (e.g. by inspection).

24. A phytosanitary certificate for re-export is issued by the NPPO of the country of re-export (a country where the commodity has not been grown or processed) when the consignment has not been subjected to the risk of infestation and complies with the phytosanitary import requirements of the importing country, and the original phytosanitary certificate or a certified copy is available. The phytosanitary certificate for re-export provides the link to a phytosanitary certificate issued in a country of export and takes into account any changes in phytosanitary status that may have occurred in the country of re-export.

25. ELECTRONIC PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES Electronic phytosanitary certificates may be issued where accepted by the NPPO of the importing country. When using electronic phytosanitary certificates NPPOs should develop systems that generate certificates using standardized language, message structure and exchange protocols . Electronic phytosanitary certificates may be used subject to the following provisions: - - The mode of issue, transmission and level of security is acceptable to the NPPO of the importing country and if relevant to NPPOs of other countries involved. - The information provided is consistent with the IPPC model phytosanitary certificates. - The purpose of phytosanitary certification under the IPPC is realized. - The identity of the issuing NPPO can be adequately established and authenticated.

26. Mode of transmission: Phytosanitary certificates should accompany the consignments for which they have been issued. Phytosanitary certificates may also be transmitted separately by mail or other means if accepted by the NPPO of the importing country. In the case of electronic phytosanitary certificates, they should be directly available to the relevant NPPO officials. In all cases, phytosanitary certificates should be available to the NPPO of the importing country upon the consignment’s arrival. Replacement of phytosanitary certificates: Phytosanitary certificates may be replaced at the request of an exporter for a consignment for which a phytosanitary certificate has already been issued. This should be done only in exceptional circumstances (e.g. damage to the phytosanitary certificates issued; change of addresses, country of destination or points of entry; missing or incorrect information) and should be carried out by the NPPO of the country that issued the phytosanitary certificates being replaced.

27. CERTIFIED COPIES OF PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES A certified copy is a copy of the original of the phytosanitary certificate that is validated (stamped, dated and countersigned) by the NPPO indicating it is a true representative copy of the original phytosanitary certificate. It may be issued upon request by the exporter. It does not replace the original. Such copies are used primarily for re-export purposes.

28. INVALID PHYTOSANITARY CERTIFICATES Phytosanitary certificates are invalid if, for example, they have or they are: - -incomplete or incorrect information - false or misleading information - conflicting or inconsistent information - wording or information that is inconsistent with the model phytosanitary certificates - information added by unauthorized persons - unauthorized (not stamped, dated or countersigned) alterations or deletions - an expired period of validity unless used as a certified copy for re-export - illegible (e.g. badly written, damaged) - non-certified copies - transmitted through a mode of transfer unauthorized by the NPPO (for electronic phytosanitary certificates) - phytosanitary certification of plants, plant products and other regulated articles prohibited for import.

29. Import requirements for the preparation and issuance of phytosanitary certificates: Importing countries frequently specify import requirements that should be observed with respect to the preparation and issuance of phytosanitary certificates. Examples of what an importing country may require include: - - that phytosanitary certificates be completed in a specific language or one of its listed languages (however, countries are encouraged to accept one of the official languages of FAO, preferably English) - the period of time allowed for issuance after inspection or treatment and the period of time between the issuance of phytosanitary certificates and the dispatch of the consignment from the exporting country - that phytosanitary certificates be completed by typing or if handwritten, be in legible capital letters (where the language allows it). - the units of measurement to be used in the description of the consignment and for other declared quantities