STRENGTHENING & MODERNISATION OF PLANT QUARNATINE
FACILITIES
The Plant Quarantine regulatory measures to prevent the introduction
and spread of destructive pests are operated through the ‘Destructive
Insects and Pests Act, 1914 (Act 2 of 1914)’. The purpose and
intent of this Act is to prevent the introduction in to India and
transport from one State to another of any insect, pathogen or other
pest, which is or may be destructive to crops. The Directorate of Plant
Protection, Quarantine and Storage was established under the
Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture & Co-operation) in
1946 and entrusted with the responsibilities of administering and
implementation of the Plant Quarantine Regulations issued under the
Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914 to prevent introduction of
exotic pests through various Plant Quarantine Stations functioning at
international airports, seaports and land border check posts across
the country. Ministry of Agriculture has brought New Seed Policy in
1988 with the main objectives of providing access to the Indian
farmers, the best planting material grown anywhere in the world in
order to increase agriculture production and thereby raising the
agriculture economy of the country. Further, the New Seed Policy laid
special emphasis for time bound strengthening of Plant Quarantine
facilities at five major Stations viz., Amritsar, Chennai, Kolkata,
Mumbai and New Delhi through which import of seed and other
planting material is permitted. Subsequently, Ministry of Agriculture
issued a notification entitled “Plant Quarantine (Regulation of
Import into India) Order, 2003” replacing earlier notification under
the above said Act to regulate the import of seed, plants, fruits and
other plant materials through notified points of entry so as to prevent
the entry of destructive pests of crops.
The Government’s primary objectives for strengthening and
modernization of plant quarantine facilities through Plant Quarantine
(Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 are:


To prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests that are
destructive to crops.
To prohibit/regulate/restrict the import of plants/plant material both for
consumption & propagation;






To prohibit/regulate the import of germplasm for research purpose;
To prohibit/regulate the import of GMOs/transgenic plant material for
research purpose;
To prohibit the import of deleterious weed species;
To regulate the import of bio-control agents/live insects/fungi & other
microbial cultures;
To regulate/restrict the import of timber/ bulk shipment of food grains;
To regulate the import of packaging material/growing media such as soil
& peat etc.
The primary objectives for strengthening of Plant Quarantine facilities are
(i) to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests that are destructive
to crops through the regulation of the import of plants and plant materials.
(ii) To gain market access for diversified agricultural products from India.
(iii) to facilitate and promote safe global trade in agriculture by assisting the
procedures and exporters by providing a technically competent and reliable
phytosanitary certification system to meet the requirements of the trading
partners.
Studies of FAO-TCP Project culminated and identifying the following
strategies for development of a fully integrated plant quarantine service with
various systems in place to meet the challenges under WTO/SPS agreement.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
Development of an effective national integrated information
management system.
Development and strengthening of facilities at existing minor Plant
Quarantine Stations and establishing of new Plant Quarantine
Stations.
Development of an integrated pest risk analysis system.
Development of an integrated surveillance system.
Development of an integrated phytosanitary order control system
for effectively regulating the import of plants and plant materials to
prevent the introduction of exotic pests.
Development of effective and credible phytosanitary certification
system to meet the international standards.
Activities & Achievements
Physical Achievements of Plant Quarantine during 11th Plan Period
Activity
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
IMPORT
EXPORT
2011-12
Import Permit issued
In nos.
24502
25986
27759
27061
29944
Imported Plant
Seeds/Propagating
material screened
MTs
10821
17717
26049
43097
12126.77
Nos.
in lac
270
762
597
443
6973.35
Imported plant
material meant for
consumption
screened
Export Certification
(PSC)
in lac
MTs
Nos.
in lac
in
Nos.
114
277
123
224
39.67
11
19
10
12
66.747
149232
194714
172206
200746
172206
Quantum of Pant
seeds/Propagating
materials screened
Quantum of plant
material meant for
consumption
screened
Revenue Collected
in lac
MTs
Nos.
in lac
In lac
MTs
Nos.
in lac
Rs. In
Cr.
0.20
0.08
3.01
4.10
22.7585
307
283
198
210
1.99
143
399
107
554
12.72
125
533
200
377
23.33
102.29
84.27
110.66
136.55
140.13