Govt revises inspection fee on plant material imports

The Dollar Business Bureau 

The government has revised the inspection fees, fumigation/disinfection/disinfestation charges and supervision charges on the import of agricultural commodities or plant material, regulated under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India). 

“The Central Government…..in the Schedule IX (clause 5) of the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, under the heading “Inspection Fees”, and the entries thereto, amends the following (given in table below) heading and entries,” said the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in a notification (S.O.1344 (E)/F.No.8-21/2017-PP.II) issued on April 27. 

The notification was published in the Gazette of India on April 28, 2017. 

The import of plant material or agricultural commodities into the country is regulated under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, which is issued under the provisions of the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914 in order to prevent the introduction of exotic pests, weeds and diseases.

Import Permit (IP) is required for importing commodities with an additional declaration and specific conditions mentioned under the Schedule VI of Plant Quarantine Order in order to deal with certain phytosanitary risks.