Phyto Clearance/NOC Must for Import of Frozen Green Peas

The following Public Notice was issued by the Commissioner of Customs (Export) Air Cargo Complex, Mumbai on 19th March 2010.

[Customs Public Notice No. 09 dated 19th March 2010]

Sub: - Import of frozen green peas.

Attention of all Importers, CHAs & Trade is invited to the Board Circular No. 39/2004-Customs dated 03.06.2004 and Instructions F. No. 450/19/2005 – Cus.IV 2nd April, 2009 regarding implementation of the provisions of phytosanitary requirements under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003.

It is also brought to the notice of all concerns that import of agriculture commodities into India is permitted only after conducting Pest Risk Analysis(PRA) for the commodity and subsequent notification under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) order, 2003. PRA involves detailed study and documentation after consulting various published scientific data/literature to identify pests associated with it, their morphology, behavior, risk posed etc., thereby identifying pests of quarantine importance to India with prescription of suitable scientific risk mitigation measures. Further, the imported agricultural commodities are subjected to inspection before clearance to ensure freedom from pest and diseases. However, certain instances have come to the notice where consignments of frozen green peas imported from China were released without referring these to the Plant Quarantine authorities. This is of serious concern in view of the risk posed to bio-security of the country as the frozen green peas may be infested with the nematode pest.

Accordingly, it is informed that all import consignments of frozen green peas should be referred to Plant Quarantine authorities without fail for proper inspection, and clearance will be permitted only after no objection certificate/phytosanitary clearance etc., given by the Plant Quarantine authorities.

F No.S/3-Misc-App. Main (Export) 01/2010 ACC