Phytosanitary Requirements According to Law of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the Field of Plant Quarantine for Importing Countries

Reporting Obligation

• Legislation: Phytosanitary Requirements/Restrictions/Prohibitions

Publication Date

06-09-2016

Last Updated

07-09-2016

Short Description

Laws of Pakistan (titles of regulatory Acts in the field of Plant Quarantine; No. of acts, date of adoption)

In Pakistan, the Plant Quarantine is regulated under the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act, 1976 and Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967. Pakistan is the signatory of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) since 1954 and Department of Plant Protection (DPP) has been functioning as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) under the provisions of IPPC and the SPS Agreement of the WTO.

1. General Provisions

a) Requirements for Phytosanitary Certificates in case of imports (records in additional declaration)

All the imports of plant and plant material are subject to Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) to assess the potential phytosanitary risks associated with the import of a particular commodity and to work out the management options to mitigate the risks in the pathway of import. Resultantly, the import conditions on the basis of the outcome of PRA are workout for a specific commodity from a particular country and are notified to the exporting country in the form of an ‘Import Permit’. The exporting country is required to fulfill the phytosanitary import conditions of Pakistan through quarantine inspection and treatment (if any) and certify through a valid 'Phytosanitary Certificate' issued by their NPPO that the particular consignment is pest free and fulfilling the import conditions of Pakistan. That consignment on arrival in Pakistan on specified port of entry is quarantined and inspected in light of the import conditions notified in the Import Permit. As a result of quarantine inspection, the Plant Quarantine Inspectors decide to release, treat, destroy or return back the consignment. The DPP issues Plant Protection Release Order (PPRO) after satisfactory inspection/ treatment and notify the Pakistan Customs to release the particular consignment.

b) Validity period of Phytosanitary Certificate for Import of Goods

The ‘Import Permit’ issued by Department of Plant Protection is valid for a maximum of 03 months. The exporting country is required to export the particular commodity within the given time of 03 months and required to meet the phytosanitary import conditions of Pakistan through their valid ‘Phytosanitary Certificate’ issued during this period of 03 months. If by any reason the import is not made possible and Import Permit become expired than a new Import Permit on the request of importer is issued for the period of another 03 months.

c) Necessity of an Import Permit (Procedure of obtaining such permit)

The purpose of ‘Import Permit’ is to notify the particular exporting country that the Pakistan has granted the market access to the specific commodity of plant nature from a specific origin and the import of that specific commodity is allowed in the country on the specific phytosanitary import conditions. The Department of Plant Protection issues ‘Import Permit’ to the importers fulfilling the requirements for registration as importers notified in the Import Policy Order, issued by Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan. The authorized importer is required to submit an application to the DPP on the Form-I and the Import Permit is issued after fulfillment of the codal formalities prescribed in the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act, 1976 and Rules, 1967 (copy enclosed).

d) Necessity of Fumigation of Importing Quarantined Goods (Product list, Processing period, Substances exposure, dosage)

Special Phytosanitary Treatments (fumigation, cold treatment, heat treatment, irradiation and vapour heat treatment etc.) are required for the commodities containing high phytosanitary risks. The commodities namely bean, chick peas, pulses, crude drugs, medicinal herbs, lucerne, oats, sunflower, canola seed for oil extraction, rape seed for oil extraction, cotton, raw jute, sorghum for consumption, soybean meal, sunflower meal, tobacco and wheat require mandatory fumigation. The detail of fumigation with processing time, fumigants, exposure/ duration and dosage is given below.

1. List of Quarantine Objects (diseases, infections and/ or pests typical for seed and Planting Material importing into Pakistan

   The Quarantine objects, Phytosanitary Import Conditions and Additional Conditions to be notified to the exporting country are worked out as a result of Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). These conditions are not constant but may be modified as result of subsequent PRAs keeping in view of the climate change and variation in pest profile of a particular commodity in the specific country. Following are the general Additional Conditions for import of high-risk commodities in Pakistan. The Country specific import requirements are add on as a result of PRA.

Detail of Additional Conditions for Import of High Risk Commodities

Alfalfa Seed
1. Seed consignment must be accompanied with seed testing report issued from Government Laboratory or based on ISTA rules that the seeds are free from Dodder Cuscuta spp. and other weed seeds. 2. The consignment should be free from impurities dust, stones, soil lumps, fungus galls plant debris and all kinds of weed seeds Tolerance zero percent in this respect. 3. The consignment must be treated with appropriate fungicide for sowing purpose before shipment, excluding mercury compound and fungicide to be specified. 4. Seed should be not genetically modified. 5. The consignment of Medicago sativa should be free from the following pest. i. Preatylenchus thornei ii. Pseudomonas syringae pv. Syringae (bacterial canker or blast (stone and pome fruit)) iii. Rotylenchulus reniformis (reniform nematode)
iv. Spodoptera littoralis (leafworm, Egyptian cotton)

Barley
Consignment should be accompanied with phytosanitary certificate issued from Government Agency and free from insect pests, diseases, sand, soil, soil lumps, plant debris, weeds, shrivelled, discoloured grains and grains showing black point symptoms. The consignment should also be free from following diseases. 1. Anguina tritici 2. Claviceps purpurea 3. Ustilago nuda 4. Pseudcmonas atrofaciens 5. Xanthomonas translucens 6. Corynebacterium spp.

Beans
i. Fumigation of the consignment prior to loading with Methyl Bromide 4-Lbs per 1000 c.ft for 24 hours at temperature 25o-32oC. The dosage of fumigant is suitably increased if fumigation is carried out under low temperature. ii. A certificate from official Government agency that the cargo does not contain, soil stones, soil lumps, insects, eaten seed, sticks, weed seeds and any undesirable extraneous materials. iii. Additional declaration on the phytosanitary certificate. iv. The consignment has been carefully examined and tested against the presence of: 1) Colletotrichum spp 2) Corynebacterium flaccumfaciens 3) Pseudomonas phaseolicola 4) Pseudomonas syringae 5) Xanthomonas phaseoli 6) Bean Mosaic Virus 7) Mottle Leaf Virus Or the above mentioned diseases are not present in the country.

Canola Seed 1. The seed imported by them for sowing purpose must be treated with appropriate fungicide and certified by competent authority in the country of origin. The name of the fungicide and dose used is mentioned on the Phytosanitary issued by the authority. 2. The consignment of seed must accompany seed testing report giving details of germination abnormal seeds inert matter weed seed and seed pathology. 3. Untreated seeds reaching Karachi port may be confiscated send back to the country of origin at the cost of importer of treated with appropriate fungicide at the cost and risk of importer.

Chick Peas and Pulses
1. Fumigation with Methyl Bromide @ 1 kg per 1000 c.ft for 48 hours, 36 gm / m3 for 48 hours, 72 gm / m3 for 24 hours, or Phosphine gas 1.1 gm/m3 for 96 hour, which must be endorsed in the Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the government agency. 2. Certificate from government authorized agency stating percentage of weed seeds and foreign matters. But it should not be more than 0.4%. 3. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged seed. Should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 4. Above additional condition must be mentioned in Phytosanitary Certificate.

Citrus Fruit
1. Produced from area free from diseases. 2. The consignment should be free from Canker disease. 3. Dipping treatment with SOPP. 4. Free of unapproved plant parts, soil and pesticide residues

Cotton Seed 1. Seed consignment must be accompanied with seed testing report issued from government laboratory of country of origin showing details of germination abnormal seed inert materials weed seeds year of production and seed pathology. 2. The seed must be treated with fungicide the dose and name of fungicide used should be mentioned in Phytosanitary Certificate.

Crude Drugs/ Medicinal Herbs
1. The crude drugs must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant and certified by a competent authority in the country of origin. The name of the fumigant and dose used is mentioned on the Phytosanitary certificate issued by the authority. 2. Un-fumigated crude drugs reaching Karachi may be confiscated send back to the country of origin at the expense of the importer or fumigated with appropriate fumigant at the cost of risk of imported before release.

Fresh Dates 1. The consignment should be a fresh crop obtained from current seasons. 2. Prior to packing in 25-Kgs paper bags the entire consignment along with the packing material should be fumigated by Iran Government (Official Agency) responsively for issuance of Phytosanitary Certificate with methyl bromide 5-Lbs per 1000 cft under airtight tarpaulins with an exposure of 24-hours at appropriate. 3. The dates should be free from dirt, impurities, insects, pests, eggs, and larvae. 4. Additional declaration in the Phytosanitary Certificate by competent Government authority that the following pests, diseases are not recorded in the country of origin that the dates do not contain moths and nit dulls that effect dates fruits. 5. Consignment should be free from Spodoptera litorals. 6. The Consignment must be accompanied with the Phytosanitary Certificate from country of origin and shipment (if differ).

Fresh Ginger
The consignment of fresh ginger imported in Pakistan must be dry cleaned and mud/soil free otherwise the consignment will be washed at the point of entry at the cost and risk of importer before release.

Seed
1. Seed consignment must be accompanied with seed testing report issued from government laboratory of country of origin showing details of germination abnormal seed inert materials weed seeds year of production and seed pathology. 2. The seed must be treated with fungicide and the dose and name of fungicide used should be mentioned in Phytosanitary Certificate. 3. Consignment should be free from genetically modification. 4. The consignment should be free from any insect, fungus or nematode and other weed seeds.

Lucerne (Medicago sativa)
1. Should be free from bacteria, viruses, nematodes, mites and objectionable weed seeds and insects. 2. Should be free from root, foot and fruit rots diseases. 3. Should be free from leaf spot, leaf blight Fusarium blight, night shade and rust diseases. 4. Must be fumigated with Phosphine @ 3g / M3 at the port of loading. 5. Government lab, test report. 6. Treatment with appropriate fungicide at required dose and it should be mentioned in the Phytosanitary certificate.

Maize Seeds 1. Seed consignment must be accompanied with seed testing report issued from government laboratory of country of origin, showing details of germination, abnormal seed, inert material weed seeds, year of production and seed pathology. 2. The must be treated with fungicide and the dose and name of fungicide used should be mentioned in phytosanitary certificate. 3. Untreated seed reaching Pakistan will be confiscated or sent back to the country of origin or treated with appropriate dose of fungicide on the cost and risk of importer before release. 4. The consignment is accompanied with official certificate stated that the crop/consignment was not infected by Xanthomonas stewarth 5. Consignment should not be Genetically Modified (GMO).

Millet
1. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged grain and should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 2. Additional condition must be mentioned in phytosanitary certificate. 3. The consignment must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant.

Oats (Avena Sativa) 1. Should be free from bacteria, viruses, nematodes, mites and objectionable weed seeds and insects. 2. Should be free from limo thrips spp, root rot, glume rot, stalk rot, eye spot and Victoria, halo and Fusarium blights. 3. Must be fumigated with phosphine @3g / M3 at the port of loading. 4. None GMO certificate from the country of origin. 5. Government lab test report. 6. Treatment with appropriate fungicide at required dose and it should be mentioned in the Phytosanitary certificate.

Sunflower and Canola Seed for Oil Extraction
1. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged grain and should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 2. Additional condition must be mentioned in phytosanitary certificate. 3. The consignment must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant.

Onion/ Garlic Bulb
1. The condition of onion/garlic bulbs should be free from smut diseases Urocystic Caepulae Downy Mildew Peronsoora Destructor and other insects, pests and diseases. 2. The competent authority should assurance that the onion bulbs picked up from the area is free from the diseases as stated above.

Potato Seed 1. It must be certified of Phytosanitary certificate issue by the Phytopathological department that the crop from which the consignment is derived was not grown in the vicinity of unhealthy potato crop and did not originate from a place where Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Golden nematode (Globodera rostochiensis), Black wart (Synchtrium endobioticum), Silver scurf (Selminthosprium soloni) and powdery scab (Spongospora Subetrranea) and other scab and potato spindle tuber viroid were prevalent. These pests and diseases mentioned were not recorded with in 2-kilometer radius of the place where the potato crop was grown during the past twelve months. 2. The potato seed must confirm the enclosed minimum seed Certification standard as approved by the National Seed Council. 3. Import of seed potatoes resistant of wart diseases is only permitted. 4. Consignment should be free from soil, unapproved plant parts. 5. Bags/Containers should be clean. 6. Import of shoots leaves and green parts of potatoes is not permitted.

Rape Seed for Oil Extraction
1. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged grain and should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 2. Additional condition must be mentioned in Phytosanitary Certificate. 3. The consignment must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) 1. Cotton should be completely ginned. 2. Phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authority National Plant Protection Organization of the country of origin should cover that the consignment of raw cotton is free from all pests and diseases particularly Anthonomas grandis. Phytosanitary certificate must be in English. 3. The consignment must be fumigated for 48 hours with 3-4 lbs of Methyl Bromide per 1000 C FT before loading which must be reflect in the Phytosanitary certificate. 4. Please advise local agent of shipping company to obtain Anchorage Permit from the Department 14 day prior to berthing of Vessel. 5. The consignment before unloading will be sprayed / disinfested to avoid any possible escape of pest during unloading and the bales will be fumigated on the plinth before release.

Raw Jute (Corchorus capsulari)
Raw jute should be dry and clean, and free from insects and fungus. It should also be free from sand, soil and dust. In case of living insects are found on your consignment it will be fumigated at your cost before the issue of release order. Phytosanitary Certificate of the country of origin. In original issued in favor of Plant Protection Department of Pakistan will be acceptable only.

Rice (Paddy Seeds)
1. Official Phytosanitary Certificate with an official verification by the competent authority that the consignment of rice breeding material has been suitably tested under ISTA approved detection technique and found free from: a- Ditylenchus angustus b- Aphelenchoides besseyi c- Tilletia barchlayana d- Xanthomonas oryzae e- Xanthomonas oryzicola 2. Seeds should be perfectly treated with systematic fungicides at appropriate dose and name of fungicide must be mentioned in the Phytosanitary Certificate. 3. It must be accompanied with a seed testing report issued by the government agency giving details of germination, abnormal seeds, inert matter weed seeds and seed pathology etc. 4. The consignment should be free from genetically modification.

Sorghum for Consumption 1. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged grain and should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 2. Additional condition must be mentioned in phytosanitary certificate. 3. The consignment must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant.

Sorghum Seed / Millet Seed
1. The Seed imported for sowing purpose must be treated with appropriate fungicide and certified by the competent authority of the country of origin. The name of the fungicide and dose used is mentioned on the Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the authority. 2. The seeds should be free from dangerous weed seeds, fungal, bacterial and viral diseases and insect pests. 3. The seed should be free from sand soil plant debris or any foreign materials. 4. The seed consignment must be accompanied with seed testing report issued from the Government laboratory of the country of origin. 5. The consignment should be free from genetically modification.

Soybean Meal 1. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged grain and should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 2. Additional condition must be mentioned in Phytosanitary Certificate. 3. The consignment must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant.

Soybean Seed
1. Inspection certificate with additional declaration that Cyst-forming nematodes do not occur in the growing premises and that the seed are clean from soil and other concomitant contamination. 2. The authority issuing the Phytosanitary Certificate must endorse that the Soybean lots are free from (Colletotricum, Truncatum, Diaporthe spp., Septoria Glycine, Peronospora spp., Xanthomonas, Phaseoli and infectious Variegaticn Virus). 3. Treatment with appropriate fungicide (EG. Thiram1-3/4433/100 Lbs). 4. Purity / Germination report from Government seed testing station. 5. Consignment should be free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).

Sunflower Meal
1. Consignment should be free from stored grain pest and other impurities including pest eaten and damaged grain and should also be absolutely free from soil, dirt and soil lumps. 2. Additional conditions must be mentioned in Phytosanitary Certificate. 3. The consignment must be fumigated with appropriate fumigant.

Sugar Cane Fuzz Importation of sugarcane is prohibited provided that the Director may authorize the importation of small quantities of plant or plant material, subject to the following conditions: 1. That the importation is made for scientific purpose; 2. That the imported planting material is grown at a recognized post entry quarantine station for an adequate period before release for large-scale planting; and 3. That the usual official certificate accompanying the consignment should bear an additional declaration to the effect that the planting material was inspected in the field and was found to be free from injurious pests and diseases and particularly from the following diseases, namely, Sugarcane Mosaic virus, Sugarcane Fiji disease virus, Pine apple disease (Ceratocystis paradoxa) Sereh disease, gummosis (Xanthomonos Vasculorum), ratoon virus and grassy shoot virus.

Tobacco (Nicotiana Labacum) Unmanufactured tobacco, either raw or cured, shall not be imported into Pakistan unless, in additional to the usual official certificate required it is accompanied by an additional declaration that it is free Ephestia elutella or that the pest does not exist in the country of origin. The consignment must be fumigated with Methyl bromide 3-4-Lbs per 1000 cft and free from insect pests and other diseases.

Vegetable Seeds 1. Seed consignment must be accompanied with seed testing report issued from government laboratory the country of origin, showing details of germination abnormal seeds, inert materials, weed seeds, year of production and seed pathology. 2. The vegetable seed must be treated with fungicide and the dose name of fungicide used should be mentioned in Phytosanitary certificate. Untreated seed reaching Pakistan will be confiscated sent back to the country of origin or treated with appropriate fungicide on the cost and risk of importer before release. 3. Declaration from exporter that vegetable seed is not genetically modified is compulsory.

Sunflower 1. Additional declaration of the Phytosanitary Certificate, issued by the Phytopathological Department of the exporting country that Helianthus Mosaic Virus does not occur in the country of origin. 2. That the parent plants from where the seeds were obtained, were inspected During active growth and found free from Plasmopara halstedii, Phoma Oleracea var. 3. The consignment should be free from seed borne diseases such as Puccinia helianthi. Septoria helianthi, Verticillium spp. as well as weed seeds and practically free from plant debris. This Certification should be endorsed in Phytosanitary Certificate on the basis of seed health testing with approved Seed testing procedure. Treatment with appropriate fungicide and fumigant (dose and chemical shall be specified in Phytosanitary Certificate). 4. It must be accompanied with seed testing report issued by the government Authority showing germination percentage and must be practically free from all foreign materials. 5. Seed Testing Report from Government Lab/ ISTA accredited laboratory. 6. The Consignment should not be Genetically Modified. 7. Maximum leval of Sclerotin bodies of Sclerotinia Selerotiorum are 0.1%.

Wheat
1. Free from Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica, and T.walkeri). 2. Substantially free from rodent residues. 3. Free from Poisonous seeds except to the extent indicated in the tender document i.e 0.4%. 4. Substantially free from smut, ergot, fungus, eurygater and striga weed. 5. Fumigated with phosphine (i) prior to loading or after loading at the rate of 3 gms of phosphine active ingredient per cubic meter volume of wheat grain, to be retained for 21 days or (ii) in case of transit fumigation ship holds should have provision for forced recirculation of phosphine fumigation at the dose rate of 3 gms per cubic meter or (iii) fumigated as prescribed under law of country of origin and re circulated and dust retained.

List of Quarantine Goods Prohibited/ Restricted for Import

The following commodities having potential phytosanitary risks are prohibited/ restricted in Pakistan. The details of relevant Sections of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 are attached.

Commodity - Reasons for Prohibition/ Restriction Potato - Section-14 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Rubber - Section-15 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Sugarcane - Section-16 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Tobacco - Section-17 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Citrus Plants - Section-18 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Coffee Plants, seeds and beans - Section-19 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Banana - Section-20 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Coconut - Section-21 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Groundnut - Section-22 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Maize - Section-23 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Tea - Section-24 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Allium spp. - Section-25 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Cocoa and Theobroma spp. - Section-26 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Soil and Rooted Plants - Section-27 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 Cotton - Section-28 of Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967

Restrictions on Import of Goods
The commodities which are restricted to import in Pakistan are mentioned in the Import Policy Order, issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan.

Keywords

Commodity keywords

Report files

List of DPP Functions and Regulations

Pakistan Plant Quarantine Act, 1976 & Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967

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