The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on June 10, 2021 has issued the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India (Fourth Amendment) Order, 2021 to further amend the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003.
• In Chapter II, clause 4 which states Import of soil, etc of the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, the entries under the clause 4 shall be replaced with the following entries: -
Clause 4- Import of soil, sand and similar material and stone shall be permitted except under the following conditions, namely:-
i. The consignments of soil in any form for research purpose, sand, similar materials and stone shall be permitted through specified air or sea ports or land customs station, on application made for that purpose. Provided an import permit shall be required for consignment of soil in any form for research purpose, sand, similar materials and stone.
ii. The application or online application for the purpose referred to in (i) above shall be made to the Issuing Authority as listed in Schedule-X, at least 10 days in advance, in PQ Form 06.
iii. A fee of Rs. 1000/- shall be payable along with the application. The fee shall be payable online or in the form of Demand Draft payable to the Competent Authority having jurisdiction.
iv. The Competent Authority may, after scrutiny of the application, and if satisfied of the purpose, for which such consignment is being imported, issue special permit in Form PQ 07. The import permit shall be issued subject to such restrictions and conditions prescribed under Schedule-VI.
• In PQ Form 06 & PQ Form 07 which specifies Application for Permit to Import soil/peat or Sphagnum moss or other growing media, the entries in the form shall be substituted.
[Notification No- S.O. 2511 (E)]
