First plant quarantine list to be implemented this week

KATHMANDU, March 10:

The government has prepared the first list of products requiring plant quarantine clearance.

The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) is implementing the list, which contains apple, citrus fruits, potato, ginger, garlic, banana and coffee, later this week.
The country imports big volume of apple, citrus fruits, garlic and banana every year.

“With the implementation of plant quarantine list, the country has started to protect plant life and health by banning import of infested plant products,” Arun GC, officer at MoAD, said.

Each quarantine station at major transit points will have laboratories to test the products before allowing them into the country.

The list was prepared as per the Plant Protection Act 2007.

The Directorate of Plant Protection prepared the list after carrying out study of prevailing pests and plant diseases in the country. It took the directorate three years to conduct the study.

According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a member country can reject plant products that have diseases and pests not found in the homeland.

The directorate works as a National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), which is a focal office in Nepal, under International Plant Protection Convention -- a sister agency of WTO.

The government prepared the list a decade after the country became member of WTO. The membership allows member countries to enforce measures to protect plant life and health.

MoAD had sent the list to WTO and its member countries in September last year. The government decided to implement the list as no comment or objection was made in the list from member countries in the given 60 days.

Officials say ban on import of infected products can help bring down trade deficit as well as promote local products.

“For effective implementation of the list, we will also prepare a manual for quarantine officials. The manual explains the ways to identify pests and diseases while sampling the products,” added GC. He, however, stressed the need to quarantine the products before starting customs formalities for effective implementation of the list.

The ministry will prepare second list of plant products that will include cut flowers (Gerbera and Carnation), cabbages, cauliflower, hot chilli, large cardamom, and tea. It has already received go ahead from WTO to implement the list. Likewise, MoAD sent notification to WTO and member countries for another list of products on January 24. The list includes pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd and radish. WTO member countries can make comment on the list within 60 days.

Officials say unhindered import of orange saplings about a decade ago is the reason behind citrus greening disease in orange orchards.

The country is yet to carry out pesticide residual analysis in the imported plant products to control pesticide residual in imports as per WTO, said GC.

Source: Republica