No MBr Fumigations for Agro Import from 57 Countries for Three Months till 31 Aug 2023

· Methyl Bromide (MBr) Ban under Montreal Protocol for Quarantine and Pre-shipment requirement for Import of Agri Commodities from MBr Phased Out Countries

· The Competent Authority in DA&FW has approved to allow the import of all Agricultural commodities without offshore MBr fumigation from the 57 MBr phased out Countries, communicated vide Directorate's letter issued under F. No. 99-74/2018-PQD dated 20th May, 2019 (Annexure II) after charging the normal inspection fee in accordance with the directions issued by DA&FW vide O.M No. 8-125/2019-PP.Il dated 12^th October, 2022 (Annexure III). However, the list of MBr phased out countries circulated vide Directorate's O.M of even No. dated 17th May, 2023 (Annexure IV) will be discontinued till 31st August, 2023

[Min. of Agri & Farmers Welfare Office Memorandum F.No. 102-1/2017-POD dated 16.06.2023]

Subject: Relaxation of Methyl Bromide (MBr) fumigation requirement for import of Agricultural commodities from MBr phased out countries.

All the Officer-in-Charges of RPQSs/PQSs may refer to the Gazette Notification issued vide S.O. 4871(£) dated 13.10.2022 (Annexure I) for amendment in Chapter II, Clause V of Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 with regard to phased out the use of Methyl Bromide (MBr) for quarantine and pre-shipment purposes.

In continuation to this, NPPO, India has communicated to 194 IPPC member countries and sought their MBr phased out status for quarantine and pre-shipment purposes along with the copy of relevant documents, such as Gazette notification, resolution, decree or any legal documents as evidences. In response to this, till date 53 NPPOs have replied their Methyl Bromide phased out status, however, some of these countries were just replied through e-mail without submission of desired documents and few of these countries have submitted their official letter without submitting the copy of Gazette notification, resolution, decree or legal documents for phased out of Methyl Bromide. The letter/documents submitted by some NPPOs are not in English, which require translation. This is leading delay in finalization of MBr phased out list of countries. Due to which, many import agricultural consignments at various Indian Ports are held up for want of import release.

Considering the above ambiguous situation, the Competent Authority, DA&FW has decided to grant 02 months time i.e, till 31st August, 2023 to consolidate and finalize the list of MBr phased out countries, as per the requirements specified in the Gazette Notification issued vide S.O. 487l(E) dated 1 3.10.2022. During this time (i.e. till3 P1 August,2023), the Competent Authority in DA&FW has approved to allow the import of all Agricultural commodities without offshore MBr fumigation from the 57 MBr phased out Countries, communicated vide Directorate's letter issued under F. No. 99-74/2018-PQD dated 20th May, 2019 (Annexure II) after charging the normal inspection fee in

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accordance with the directions issued by DA&FW vide O.M No. 8-12512019-PP.Il dated 12^th October, 2022 (Annexure III). However, the list of MBr phased out countries circulated vide Directorate's O.M of even No. dated 17th May, 2023 (Annexure IV) will be discontinued till 31st August, 2023. Further to this, w.e.f 01st September, 2023 the fresh list of MBr phased out countries will be strictly implemented based on the valid documents furnished by MBr phased out/ banned countries towards its use for quarantine and pre-shipment purposes or otherwise.

This issues with the approval of Joint Secretary (PP), DA&FW.