Import of frozen green peas – CBEC instructions

By Vijay Kumar

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, behaviour, 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 pests and diseases.

But Board has come to know that consignments of frozen green peas imported from China were released by customs 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.

So, Board now wants that all import consignments of frozen green peas to be referred to Plant Quarantine authorities for proper inspection, and clearance should be permitted only after necessary no objection certificate/ phytosanitary clearance etc., has been given by the Plant Quarantine authorities.

CBEC Circular No . 02/2010-Cus., Dated: February 9, 2010