INSTRUCTION DATE 25/01/2006

Import of consignments of plants & plant products-reg.
I am directed to invite your attention to para 18 of the Chapter 9 of CBEC’s Customs manual wherein it is mentioned that ‘the Customs will have to ensure that plant/plant material (primary agricultural products) are granted clearance for home consumption only after necessary permission is granted by the concerned Plant and Quarantine Officer’.

2. Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture & Cooperation) has informed that the import of plants and plant products into the country is regulated under the provisions of the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 in order to prevent the ingress of exotic pests & diseases that may adversely affect the agriculture. Therefore, the import consignments of plants & plant products have to be inspected by the Plant Quarantine Authorities to verify absence of infestation of pests & diseases before being cleared for release by Customs. However, there have been instances where Customs officials have released the import consignments of garlic and other agricultural commodities imported from China and other countries without reference to the Plant Quarantine Stations. Such action could lead to the inadvertent introduction of dangerous quarantine pests into the country and also result in loss of revenue that would otherwise have been realized through Plant Quarantine inspections and treatment of the imported consignments. The matter has gained importance since Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has stopped issuing any more permits for the import of garlic from China with immediate effect due to repeated interceptions of the Embellisia allii, a fungus that could adversely affect the indigenous production of garlic and garlic group of crops.

3. In view of above it is re-iterated that release of any import consignments of plants & plant products, including garlic, should not be done without prior clearance of the Plant Quarantine authorities.

F.No.450/11/2006-Cus.IV

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