BP Singh

52 Ram Nath(b)(c)(d)(e)PFS (amendment) Order, 1991 of January 20,1992 allowsimport of plants, fruits, seeds and any material of plantorigin for consumption without import permit andphytosanitary certificate. Under the pretext of'consumption' small consignments of planting materialmay be imported without quarantine check.Bulk import of materials for planting purposes posesserious risk as thorough examination and treatment isdifficult.The New Policy on Seed Development provides forpost-entry-isolation growing for cuttings and sapJingsof flowers, however, no post-entry isolation growing isrequired for tubers, bulbs, rhizomes etc. which carry farmore risks.Under domestic quarantine, only eight pests/ diseaseshave been covered, while there are number of otherserious pests which are s~ill localised and not coveredunder the regulations. Even in the case of these eightpests, domestic quarantine is not being enforced,properly with the result that these pests continue tospread to new areas/states in the country.SuggestionsSome suggestions for improving the plant quarantinefunctioning in the country are give!l hereunder.(a)(b)A separate 'plant quarantihe declaration card' like theone for customs declaration should be introduced forpassengers visiting India for declaring any seed/planting material brought as accompanied baggage andall such materials should be subjected to quarantinecheck.All incoming international mail (packets/envelop.es)should be passed through some kind of scanningdevice to intercept seed material as is done for securitycheck. .