The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued thePlant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) (Tenth Amendment) Order, 2023. This order has come into force from 6th October, 2023.
The Amendment Order has revised the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003.
The Amendment Order is now permitting the import of additional plant species from Nigeria, Netherlands, Spain and Hungary subject to the following condition.
Nigeria
The Order envisages the import of dry grains for consumption of Vigna subterranea (Bambara groundnut). These imports should bear the following additional declarations in their Phytosanitary certificate:
- Free from:
- Alectra vogelii (Yellow witchweed)
- Bruchidius atrolineatus
Such import shall also be subject to the following special conditions:
- Free from soil and other plant debris.
- Fumigation with aluminum phosphide (ALP) @ 9 g/metric ton for minimum 5-7 days or equivalent thereof.
- The treatment shall be endorsed in Phytosanitary Certificate issued at the country of origin
Netherlands
The Order also contemplates the import of the tissue cultured plants of Echinacea purpurea/ Echinacea hybrid (cone flower). They shall have the following additional declarations in their Phytosanitary certificate:
- Certified that the tissue cultured plants were obtained from mother stock tested and maintained free from:
- Broad bean wilt virus,
- Cucumber mosaic virus,
- Impatiens necrotic spot virus,
- Tomato spotted wilt virus and
- Tobacco rattle virus
Spain
Import of fresh fruits for consumption of Diospyros kaki (Persimmon). Such import shall be subject to the following special conditions:
- Pest free area status for Ceratitis spp. as per international standards or
- Pre shipment/ In-transit cold treatment at 0oC or below for 10 continuous days; 0.55oC or below for 11 continuous days; 1.1oC or below for 12 continuous days plus in-transit refrigeration against fruit flies or
- Methyl Bromide fumigation @ 32 g/m3for 2 hrs at 21oC or above at NAP or equivalent thereof.
- This treatment should be endorsed on Phytosanitary Certificate issued at the country of origin/re-export.
Hungary
Import of tissue culture plants of Arundo donax. These imports should include the additional declaration in their Phytosanitary certificate that it is certified that the tissue culture plants were obtained from mother stock tested and maintained free from any virus.
