The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy (MoFAH&D) on October 21, 2024, issued the Guidelines for Import of Live Seaweeds into India.
The following has been stated namely: -
• The distinct ecological, environmental, biological, genetic, regulatory, and policy factors related to seaweed and terrestrial plants necessitate separate quarantine guidelines to effectively manage the risks of seaweed introductions and ensure responsible management of this valuable marine resource.
• Paragraph 3 provides the general conditions for import – it states that the import of live seaweed is prohibited if it is a known vector of pathogens, listed under CITES, or on threatened lists unless certified by the exporting country's authority.
• It further states that Import permits shall be valid for six months, non-transferable, and may be cancelled for suppressed information, while importers shall bear the cost of fumigation or disinfection if required, and cannot make intellectual property claims on the imported material.
• It provides an indicative list of seaweed species/strains to be considered for import.
Detailed notification is attached below.
[Notification no. - j-1503529/5/2024-DOF (E-24345)]
