Unit-7

Plant Quarantine Service Overview

  • Plant Quarantine Service of the Philippines is managed under the Department of Agriculture.

  • The service is designed to protect agricultural industries from harmful plant pests and diseases.

Historical Legislation

Philippine Plant Quarantine (PPQ)

  • Established on March 8, 1922.

  • Governed by R.A. 3027 (Plant Quarantine Law) which aims to:

    • Protect agricultural industries from foreign pests and diseases.

    • Regulate domestic movement of plant materials to minimize pest introduction.

Other Relevant Laws

  • R.A. 3767 (1930): Regulates the importation of living animals, targeting those capable of affecting agricultural crops.

  • P.D. 1433 (1978): Strengthened control and monitoring of plant pests and diseases movement.

Import Quarantine Protocols

Import Permit Application

  • Required for anyone planning to import plants or plant products.

  • Must be submitted to the Plant Quarantine Service prior to importation.

Importation Regulations

  • Importations necessitating a Permit to Import include:

    • Living plants and nursery stocks.

    • Seeds and nuts intended for planting.

    • Fresh fruits and vegetables specified as prohibited by Special Quarantine Orders.

    • Cultures of fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and phytopathogens.

    • Soil and plant materials for organism isolation.

    • Certain animal species that could become agricultural pests.

Application Evaluation Process

  1. Pest Risk Analysis (PRA): Uses pest lists and information from various sources.

  2. Field Inspection: Ensures the growing area meets phytosanitary recommendations.

  3. Form Assessment: Applicants either complete requirements or receive return instructions.

  4. Regulatory Approvals: Includes evaluation by the Institutional Biosafety Committee and National Committee on Biosafety.

Import Permit Issuance

  • Upon approval, payment of regulatory fees is required.

  • Permit consists of four copies for various stakeholders (e.g., permittee, customs).

Inspection Upon Arrival

Required Documents

  • Phytosanitary Certificate.

  • Original import permit.

  • Bill of Lading or Airway Bill.

  • Inward Cargo Manifest and Customs Entry Declaration.

Importation Not Requiring Permit

  • Not governed by plant quarantine restrictions include:

    • Fresh fruits and vegetables in limited quantities for food or processing.

    • Dried or sterilized botanical specimens.

    • Fresh flowers and bouquets free from prohibited materials.

Export Quarantine Procedures

Requirements for Export Certificate

  1. Import Permit from the destination country.

  2. Clearance for restricted exports from relevant authorities.

  3. Application for Phytosanitary Certificate submitted 48 hours before loading.

Phytosanitary Certification

  • Only authorized officers can issue Phytosanitary Certificates for compliant commodities.

  • Denied for exports prohibited by plant quarantine regulations.

Important Export Products

  1. Bananas

  2. Coconut (desiccated)

  3. Fresh pineapple

  4. Coconut copra

  5. Coconut copra meal/pellets

  6. Fresh mango

  7. Fresh onions

  8. Tobacco leaves (dried)

Verification and Inspection

  • Conducted via random sampling of export products.

  • Possible outcomes:

    1. Release to consignee if no pest found.

    2. Treatment if pests are eliminable.

    3. Hold under post-entry quarantine.

    4. Infested shipments: return, ship elsewhere, or destroy.

Permit Revocation Conditions

  • Permits may be revoked for:

    1. Superficial inspections.

    2. Failure to notify requirements.

    3. Misdeclared shipments.

    4. Falsification of documents.

    5. Other regulatory violations.