After the recent detection of viruses in vineyards of Maharashtra, there has been a clamour for a more stringent quarantine system to avoid penetration of viruses through imported plant varieties. In fact, after taking note of the detection by the Pune-based National Research Centre (NRC) for Grapes, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said that though the Central Government is not directly involved in the import of planting material, he will look into the matter to implement measures to curb the penetration of infected plants.

The plant quarantine regulatory measures operate through the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914, which prevents “the introduction of insect, fungus or other pest which is or may be destructive to crops”. The import of agricultural products is regulated through the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003.

“There are instances when infected plants easily escape the quarantine. We need more stringent quarantine methods so that no virus is imported,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Krishna Lavekar. This, because as per NRC experts, many grape plants could be symptom-less carriers as it takes a long time to express the symptoms. “Special quarantine for such material and greater involvement of agriculture universities in detecting viruses is needed,” adds Lavekar.

India has 35 plant quarantine stations at airports, sea ports and land frontiers which implement the regulations. As the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement of WTO envisages the application of phytosanitary measures based on scientific justifications, it is imperative to conduct all inspections as per the international guidelines.

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