BP Singh

Plant Quarnatine Regulations and their implementation in India ,47enacted plant quarantine legislations with fl. view to prevent entryof exotic pests! diseases during the first and second decades of thecurrent century.Development of plant quarantine in IndiaLearning from the experience of these countries, Indianauthorities also took early steps in this direction and in '1906"ordered compulsory flLW,g.atio).:1 of all the incoming cotton baies' at'the port of entry to prevent the introduction of the dreadedMexican cotton boll weevil (Antlzonomus grandis). However, it wassoon realised that cotton boll weevil was not the only pest thatneeded to be kept out. Therefore, a comprehensive plant quarantinelegislation was passed on 3 February,12,l!.by the Governor Generalof India which is popularly known as "Qestr,uctive Insect and Pe~ts~t,)91.4" (DIP Act). Since its first promulgation, Govt. of Indiahas issued eight amendments/ adaptation orders, so far. The DIPAct empowers the Central Government to:i) prohibit or regulate the import into India or any partthereof or any place therein, of any article or class ofarticles likely to cause infection to any cropiii)iii)prohibit or regulate the export from a State or thetransport from one State to another in India, of anyarticle or class of articles likely to cause infection to anycrop;make rules prescribing the nature of documents whichshall accompany any article or class of articles, theexport or transport of which is subject to the conditionsimposed or which shall be held by the consignor orconsignee thereof, the authorities which may issuesuch documents and the manner in which thesedocuments shall be employediIt authorises. the State Governments to make rules fordetention, inspection, disinfection or disinfestation of any articleor class of articles in respect of which a notification has been issuedand for regulating the powers of the officers whom it may appointin this behalf.It provides for penalty for persons who knowingly contravenethe rules and regulations issued under the act.