Country reports
4.1 Australia
Recent developments in the area of plant health in Australia include the establishment of Biosecurity Australia, the activities of the office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer (OCPPO), the development of the Plant Health Australia (PHA) and the progress and development of Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs).
Biosecurity Australia was established in 2000 as the policy working group within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia (AFFA) to separate biosecurity policy/review, market access negotiations and international/regional standards setting from the operational role of the Australia Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
The OCPPO is responsible for the development and implementation of national policies and programmes of significance to Australia’s plant health. In the past two years the OCPPO has been involved in managing 12 major pest and disease incursions, with a total cumulative cost of AU$22.95 million.
PHA is the national coordinating body responsible for addressing priority plant health issues in Australia, and for promoting confidence in Australia’s plant industries. CRCs have been established to undertake cutting-edge research for the agricultural and rural sector. Since 1990, twenty-six (26) CRCs have been established.
Australia has a commitment to integrated pest management (IPM) as a key tool in sustainable pest management. Australia has three well-known industry role models in the successful use of IPM programmes: citrus, vine grapes and pome fruit.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is responsible for evaluating, registering and regulating agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), in conjunction with other government agencies, monitors food to ensure that it is safe, and complies with standards for microbiological contaminants, pesticide residue limits (maximum residue limits) and chemical contamination. Australia is leading the world in a move away from conventional chemical insecticides towards options such as biopesticides.
Australia continues to play an important role in ICPM standard setting activities and is an active participant in the APPPC. As such, Australia is funding a regional technical consultation in Kuala Lumpur to discuss draft ISPM standards immediately after the 23rd APPPC meeting. Biosecurity Australia is committed to working closely with other APPPC member countries in developing phytosanitary standards that are applicable to the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia has an expanding regional plant health programme, especially in quarantine capacity building, to assist developing countries to address their SPS obligations. A key example is the master class in biosecurity, which will be held in September 2003 for invited representatives from Asia, Pacific, and South and Central American countries.
4.2 Bangladesh
Bangladesh with a total population of 123.1 million is the eighth most populous country in the world. Population growth rate at present is 1.48 percent with a density of 876 per sq km. Average life expectancy at birth has changed from 58 years in 1945 to 61 years in 2000.
Malnutrition due to poverty and inadequate nutrition knowledge is considered a serious public health problem as in other developing countries in South and South East Asia. More that 80 percent of the total population is having a problem of energy intake. About 50 percent of the children are born with low birth weight, 47 percent of the total population suffer either from visible or non-visible goiter, 70 percent of the children and women suffer from anemia. Other malnutrition problems also exist due to low intake of riboflavin, vitamin C etc.
Recently, the Government undertook various policies and programmes resulting in the country attaining self-sufficiency in cereal production. But the production of other food items could not meet the nutritional requirement as per desirable dietary pattern. However, initiatives are being taken and the progress has been slow. Along with the food production, food safety net programme has been undertaken to meet the needs of the distressed families.
To feed the total population, most of the food items are produced in the country. Production of crops including vegetables and fruits are sometimes hampered to a great extent by natural calamities and also pests and diseases. Promotive and preventive measures are taken by the Government to face the natural calamities. But for controlling pests and diseases, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken special care through policy formulation. Previously pests and diseases were controlled using pesticides to protect the field crops, horticultural crops and also forest plants, but most times it brought health hazard. Considering such negative impact, the Government particularly, the Ministry of Agriculture approved the integrated pest management policy at the highest level. Moreover, new pest surveillance, forecasting and early warning systems have been introduced and the Destructive Insects and Pests Rules, 1996 was also amended. The Ministry of Agriculture started implementation of Strengthen Plant Protection Services in 1991 and continued until June 2002. Subsequently based on the unique results, the project, has been extended until June 2005.
As far as IPM policy is concerned, the basic objective is to enable the farmers to grow healthy crops on a sustainable basis for improving the income and nutritional well-being of farmers and consumers. Meanwhile, the Government has institutionalized plant protection measures in the country. Strong coordination both horizontal and vertical, needs to be ensured for successful implementation of the policies and programmes for safe life in the future.
4.3 Cambodia
The current activities of plant protection in Cambodia cover four areas:
- research on pest problem on major crop
- plant quarantine
- pesticide evaluation
- pest control and extension
Research activities related to crop protection and phytosanitary issues were carried out under the agricultural productivity improvement project (APIP).
The sub-decree on phytosanitary inspection No. 98, dated October 1983 was reviewed so it complied with Protocol No. 8 on SPS harmonization of ASEAN countries and WTO Agreement on SPS. This new sub-decree was enacted on 13 March 2003 with other regulations for strict implementation, are in the process of development.
The sub-decree "standard and management of agricultural material" which includes pesticide management was enacted on 28 October 1998. This sub-decree was implemented by Bureau of Agricultural Material Standard (BAMS), Department of Legal, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries. The plant protection and phytosanitary inspection office plays the role of a technical adviser. Through this sub-decree, the plant protection and phytosanitary inspection office is responsible for: pesticide surveillance, pesticide effectiveness field trial and pesticide formulation analysis. The Plant Protection Office is an executing agency in pesticide management through:
- IPM programme
- safe use of pesticide training
- pest control, field trial and field demonstration
4.4 China
Owing to many factors, migratory insect pests and epidemic insect pests and diseases have caused serious infestations in the past few years. A great emphasis has been put on the management of crop pests. During the past two years, the Government has carried out the programme of "demonstration of IPM strategies in major crops" and invested about US$50 million in the programme of "enhancement of plant protection infrastructures". Since 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has begun a national survey on agriculture pests in national wide.
Great efforts are being made to improve the quality of agricultural products in China. In the past two years, in order to promote clean food and green food products, the MOA initiated a programme of "action plan for the development of non-polluted agricultural products". The MOA has promulgated a series of notices and rules to strengthen the management of high toxic pesticides, and the monitoring and detection of pesticide residues. Thirty-seven (37) pesticides were banned or restricted. Eleven (11) pesticides were not registered and the registration of 11 others was cancelled.
Since China became a member of WTO in 2001, the Government has paid more attention to IPPC and SPS than ever. Early this year the domestic legal procedure of adherence to the IPPC was initiated. In line with the IPPC and SPS, the Government has reviewed and modified the national phytosanitary regulations and standards of phytosanitary measures. At the same time, China is actively taking part in the development of international and regional standards of phytosanitary measure.
On the other hand, in order to promote the international trade of agro-products, the Government makes great effort to extend the scope of cooperation in plant protection with other countries. MOA has signed bilateral plant protection cooperation agreements with more than 13 countries from 2001 to 2002. Through the successful phytosanitary negotiation, some kinds of Chinese fruits, vegetables and grains have been given permission to export to the international market.
China (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [SAR] China)
Crop farming in Hong Kong concentrates on growing vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. The available arable land is primarily used for vegetable production to supply the local market. In 2002, 32 100 tonnes of fresh vegetables were produced accounted for 5.2 percent of local consumption.
Pest incidence is considerable in vegetable production under the intensive cropping pattern and subtropical climate in Hong Kong. Commonly occurring pests include: fall armyworm (Spodoptera litura), vegetable leaf miner (Liriomyza sativae Blanchard), striped flea beetle (Phyllotgreta striolata), whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), Palm thrips (Thrips palmi Karmy), cotton aphid (Aphid gossypii Glover), Hawaiian beet webworm (Hymenia recurvalis (Fabricius)) and melonfly (Bactrocera cucurbitae). Fungal diseases, viral diseases and nematodes may also cause damage when farmers do not attend their crops.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government continues to evaluate and field-test various environmental friendly pest control measures for development of integrated pest management systems to help local farmers combat major vegetable pests. Applicable technical information is disseminated through farm visits, field demonstration and workshops. The Department actively pursues the development of organic farming and automated greenhouse crop production and studies have been undergoing to evaluate the technical requirements.
The Plant (importation and pest control) Ordinance regulates the import of plants, plant pests and soil. To facilitate traders in the export of plants, AFCD also provides phytosanitary certification services.
Currently, a total of 445 pesticides are registered by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation under the Pesticides Ordinance. The Government actively encourages the development and use of alternative measures, including bio-pesticides, that can reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides in agricultural pest control.
The Administration is revising the Pesticides Ordinance to provide for registration by individual pesticide product rather than active ingredient and the control of pest control service providers by license. It is intended to implement the new measures in 2004.
4.5 DPR Korea
The Government of the Republic, from the principle of the Juche idea, attaches great importance to the work of plant protection which is important for securing sustainable food production and wholesome ecosystem, and paid deep attention to enhancing functions and role of the infrastructure of the national plant protection system.
From the view point of the given topographical and climate conditions, it was confirmed as the best method for prevention of the outbreak and the damage by the pests to continuously apply and replicate the methods of "right crop in the right time" and "right crop on right soil".
The main problem to be solved for implementation of the pest control strategy in DPR Korea is the fact that the control measures are being taken only when material supply is sufficient to control relevant pests and diseases, without confirming the economical permission standards according to the features of the individual pests causing damages to the crops.
DPR Korea also face difficulty in taking preventive measures for unexpected massive occurrence of pests and its damage due to lack of scientific preliminary survey and forecasting system of the pests emigrating from the Southeast Asia.
Nationwide measures are taken vigorously for the increase of agricultural production in recent years and accordingly a noticeable progress is being made year-by-year.
Improvement of soil fertility and water management was understood and given priority as one of the main efficient factors for the successful control of the pests.
It is our experience that the protection of the crop damaged by rice water weevil was successful if the early ripening variety is transplanted after the top propagation period of the parent insects and if damage continues to exist, simple watering and saturation watering are adopted, under an expectation of damage by newly generated insects after the stage of parenthood land drainage method is applied for several days.
4.6 Fiji Islands
Fiji is a small developing island nation. Small in land area, population and other resources. Fiji’s small island economy is inherently less diversified than those of developed countries and larger developing countries.
Agriculture forestry and fisheries remain the backbone of Fiji’s economy. Such sectors are a vital source of employment and subsistence and provide tremendous potential for further development.
Fiji’s economy is agro-based and is more vulnerable to internal and external shocks. Therefore our economic survival depends on our capability and capacity to buffer the shocks and to trade, in other words Fiji’s capacity to open up, markets for the agricultural, forestry and fisheries products and its ability to service these markets.
Fiji’s strength in agriculture trade is the unique quality of the agro products i.e. the taste and free from pests and diseases. Perhaps focusing on a highly effective Quarantine Department and Service.
Agriculture has accounted for 43 percent of Fiji’s foreign exchange earnings. It provides 50 percent of the country’s total employment and contributes 19 percent to Fiji’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The Government of Fiji and the Ministry of Agriculture has highlighted the vital role that quarantine has to perform in facilitating trade and securing the borders of Fiji from incursions of pests and diseases which are harmful to the plants, animals and human health.
Fiji has very limited quarantine capacity to increase its export of agricultural products due to the following major constraints:
- Fiji quarantine is extremely in short supply as far as indigenous expertise is concerned and as far as financial capacity to obtain the necessary expertises.
- Fiji, like other developing countries, has become signatory to the WTO, yet having difficulty in compliance with international standards because of limitation and standard of facilities and equipment available to quarantine services.
The following recommendations embodied the views and contributions from the private sector, civil societies, government and consultants:
- review the current quarantine legislation;
- incorporate the plant and animal quarantine into one quarantine division;
- improve the Information Technology at the quarantine division;
- capacity building and facilities upgrading.
4.7 India
India is an agrarian country. Plant protection involves protection of agriculture from pests and diseases through promotion of integrated pest management (IPM), regulatory measures to prevent introduction of exotic pests/diseases, ensuring availability of safe and quality pesticides and biopesticides, training of extension functionaries in plant protection and locust control in the scheduled desert areas.
Directorate of plant protection, quarantine and storage under the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India is the national plant protection organization exclusively devoted to plant protection services in the country. In the states, plant protection set up exists from block level upwards. At the state headquarters, the plant protection work is being attended by Joint Director (Plant Protection).
At national level, major emphasis is being given on the promotion of integrated pest management to minimize the use of harmful pesticides as well as to protect human health and environment from the hazards of pesticides. Under this programme, the farmers are being trained through farmers’ field schools (FFSs) to grow healthy crop and manage pests/diseases with need based use of chemical pesticides. To encourage bio-pesticide industry, the data requirement for the registration of bio-pesticides has been simplified and commercialization of all such bio-pesticides is allowed during the period of provisional registration.
Through regulatory measures, the Government is encouraging the import of elite varieties of seeds and planting materials for increasing production and productivity of various crops. In order to give a boost for the export and import of agricultural commodities, four laboratories with modern facilities have been established at three regional plant quarantine stations, namely, Kolkata, Amritsar, Chennai and at national plant quarantine station, New Delhi. Similar facility is being established at regional plant quarantine station at Mumbai.
4.8 Indonesia
Plant protection and quarantine is acknowledged as an important element of crop production in Indonesia. The Government of Indonesia has, therefore, a strong commitment to strengthen the plant protection and quarantine system of the country.
During the past two years, pest infestations were reported to cause damage in some crops producing areas in Indonesia. Crops attacked included paddy, soybean, peanut, corn, cassava, sweet potato, cashew, cocoa, coconut, clove, citrus, banana, rambutan, cabbage, potato and shallot. Whereas pests identified to cause major damage on those crops were rat (Rattus argentiventer), stem borer (Scirpophaga innotata, S. incertulas, Chilo suppressalis, and Sesamia inferens), brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stal.), tungro (virus), blast disease (Pyricularia oryzae), locust (Locusta migratoria), powdery mildew (Peronosclero-spora maydis), stem borer of corn (Pyrausta furnacalis), army worm (Spodoptera litura), corn pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera), rice seedling flies (Atherigona exigua), leaf blight of corn (Bipolaris maydis), soybean pod borer (Etiella zinckenella), soybean leaf roller (Lamprosema indicata F.), bean fly (Ophyomyia phaseoli Tryon.), green semi-loopers (Chrysodeixis chalcites), peanut leaf roller (Biloba subsecivella Zell.), brown spot (Cercosporidium personatum and C. arachidicola), wild pig (Sus spp.), leaf rust of peanut (Puccinia arachidis), spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus Boisd.), brown spot (Cercospora henningsii), root-rot disease of cashew, scale pest of coconut, cocoa pod borer, stem borer of clove, coconut cricket, CVPD, banana wilt diseases, fruit flies, Diplodia, rambutan leaf caterpillar, slugs on cabbage, and potato/shallot leaf miner.
IPM based control measures which focused mainly on the use of biological control agents, biopesticides, resistant varieties, and farming system were applied to reduce the severity of the damage caused by those pests. Due considerations had been made in controlling the pests. Measures applied commonly those were environmentally friendly, locally specific, acceptable to farmers, inexpensive, and known to cause only minimum negative impact.
As a member of the IPPC, Indonesia has taken all necessary steps to implement the existing ISPMs. Lack of expertise has been identified as a major constraint for the implementation of the standards. To overcome this problem, it is recommended that training programme could be made available for APPPC members in the near future.
At present 30 formulations of biopesticides containing Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus coagulans, Beauveria bassiana, Gliocladium sp., Trichoderma koningii, rotenone, methyl eugenol, and azadirachtin, are registered in Indonesia. Four more formulations containing Bacillus thuringiensis and azadirachtin are now being processed for registration.
4.9 Korea, Republic of
With urbanization and industrialization in Korea, the cultivation acreage decreased about 10 percent from 2 055 thousand ha in 1993 to 1 863 thousand ha in 2002. Consequently, cultivation acreage and production of cereals, vegetables, and cash crops are showing gradually decreasing trend. Meanwhile, as the importation of agricultural products from foreign countries is continuously increasing in Korea, National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) is carrying out thorough border inspection, monitoring, and control activities to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic pests and diseases.
The occurrence of pests and diseases of rice, which is the most important major food crop in Korea, is changing with the introduction of new rice varieties, change of cultural practices and weather conditions such as unpredictable dry and rainy season. The occurrence of pests and diseases was very low in 2002 as compared with average occurrence rate of last ten years.
IPM in Korea was mainly focused on the basic factors such as pest identification, ecology, and chemical control methods, etc. In 2002, RDA conducted demonstration project for IPM on rice in 37 sites, 549 farmers participated in this project, and they were educated four times. As a result of this, frequency of the pesticide application was reduced from 3.9 times to 2.4 times, and application hour was also decreased from 2.7 hours to 1.6 hours.
The Republic of Korea revised Plant Protection Act (PPA) in November, 2002. The revised PPA allowed importation of live insects for biological control, pollination, education or exhibition purposes after pest risk analysis. As of July 2003, importation of eight species such as Bombus terrestris, Phytoseilus persimilis, Encaria formosa etc. are allowed for pollination and biological control.
In Korea, internet is widely used and accessible to everybody, so most information on phytosanitary measures is available on following websites:
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry: http://www.maf.go.kr
Rural Development Administration: http://www.rda.go.kr
National Plant Quarantine Service: http://www.npqs.go.kr
Total 1 064 products of pesticide are now registered in Korea, and they are regulated by different intensity in terms of their toxicity in order to minimize the risk to the human and environment.
The Republic of Korea revised the Pesticide Control Act in June 2002 in harmonization with the prior informed consent (PIC) convention. The Government is going to accept the PIC convention this year.
In order to minimize the negative effects such as agrochemical resistance, destruction of ecosystem and residue in crops, the Rep. of Korea Government is steadily attempting to utilize various kinds of bio-control methods using natural enemies and bio-pesticides.
Considering the rapid increase of public concern and awareness over the environment protection and food safety both domestically and internationally, Korea will steadily pursue the sustainable environment-friendly agriculture as well as quality production using GAP, in order to get more safe agricultural products without causing any damage to natural environment.
4.10 Lao PDR
Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation of Lao farmers. Rice production of the country is still not stable from year to year and is often affected by natural calamity such as flood or drought which happens nationwide sometime but frequently in some local areas of the country and consequently insufficiency of food is foreseeable.
Crop farming concentrates on rice, the most important crop, occupying 82-84 percent of the total crop area, and is the staple food for the Lao people.
Pest incidence varies from one season to another and from one region to another. In crop production, the most important groups of pests are generally insects, diseases caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses and weed. Birds, rodents, crabs and snails may be serious pests in certain cropping systems.
Under the pesticide regulations the import, sale, transport and storage of pesticide are controlled through a registration scheme. Presently, there are five registered manufacturers; four manufacturers from Viet Nam and one from Germany. There are 46 active ingredients with 33 trade names permitted to use in Lao PDR.
Over the past years, inoculation of beneficial insect (i.e. Diadegma semiclausum, Microptilis plutellae and Cotesia plutellae) to control the pest damaging cruciferous crop vegetables demonstrates significant results.
Plant protection, especially integrated pest management, is important for implementing the Government objectives of increased market-oriented agricultural product for commercialization and national self-sufficiency. Integrated pest management system will be developed to insure a sustainable productivity in crop production. Initial emphasis will be on developing IPM system for rainfed lowland rice, irrigated rice, cotton, coffee, maize, grain legumes and other commercial crops. Other crops will progressively be subject to IPM.
4.11 Malaysia
During the 1998 economic crises, the agriculture sector had demonstrated extraordinary resilience. This has prompted the Government to declare agriculture as the third engine of growth for the economy in the new millennium and has taken concerted efforts to further expand the agriculture sector especially in food production and export oriented crops. However this new policy direction comes in the midst of challenges brought upon by trade liberalization and globalization under WTO.
Production of food for domestic consumption is faced with inherent problems of pest infestation, low productivity and increasing labour cost, making it less competitive. Trade liberalization has made it imperative for the country to implement development strategies to make food production more competitive.
Consequently, the Department is implementing several programmes to overcome these problems including:
- pest surveillance and forecasting to control pest outbreak;
- judicious/reduced use of pesticides;
- the use of selective pesticides;
- accreditation of farms with good agricultural practices;
- biological control of pests using barn owl for rats, fish and ducks for weeds and golden apple snail;
- development of IPM/ICP programmes for new crops to meet the requirements of good agricultural practices (GAP) for export market;
- organic farming.
On the other hand, the requirements for scientific justification when imposing any phytosanitary measure under SPS Agreements have a far reaching effect on the future export potential of the country. The main issue being the lack of plant health information, which has hindered recent attempts to gain access to international markets.
Several projects are being implemented to ensure compliance with the SPS Agreement including:
- updating of the host-pest list;
- setting up of a national collection and repository centre for plant pathogens and pests;
- research on effective post harvest treatments;
- implementation of ISPMs such as the establishment of pest free areas of production, the use of integrated measures in a systems approach for pest management, pest risk analysis for quarantine pest, notification for non compliance etc.;
- revision of the existing Plant Quarantine Act and regulations to be consistent with the IPPC and SPS Agreements.
4.12 Myanmar
Myanmar being an agricultural country, has tried to keep abreast with other nations in the field of plant protection. To meet the international standards, plant protection division has undertaken the responsibilities with the co-operation of member countries of the regional organization, APPPC.
There are no reports of pest and disease outbreaks in this period. Biological control research work as a part of IPM programme is being carried out for cotton, groundnut and vegetables.
Farmers’ field school (FFS) were established since the year 2000, at the beginning stage emphasis is made only on the rice farmers.
Plant quarantine works are not expanded in this period, electronic certification was launched starting from end of the year 2002.
4.13 Nepal
Nepal is basically an agricultural country with 81 percent of population depending on it and GDP accounting 42 percent of the total. Pre and post harvest losses are around 25-35 percent of the total production.
IPM has very successfully covered two-third of the country with male and female trained farmers as 9 684 and 6 782 respectively over a very short period of time. It has reduced the use of pesticides by about 40 percent and increased rice yield by 15-25 percent in the IPM area.
Nepal has revised/reviewed Acts and Regulations of Pesticides and Quarantine. The Pesticide Act is also being reviewed by the legal office of FAO for harmonization purpose.
Nepal has brought in and is bringing many policy changes in line with WTO, SPS measures etc. The Ministry of Agriculture is also being restructured. Further to the approval of three projects on IPM, quarantine and disposal, more projects are hoped to be approved in the near future.
4.14 New Zealand
MAF has been, over the last two years, undergoing a review of its strategic direction and a document ‘biosecurity strategy’ has been developed and is now in the final stages of consultation.
The Biosecurity Act 1993 is the principal legislation for the exclusion, eradication and management of pests and unwanted organisms in New Zealand. A substantial amendment was passed in November 1997 and another more recently extend various powers relating to inspection, surveillance, seizure, control and enforcement and also repealed provisions of the Forests Act 1949 relating to biosecurity, which had become redundant as a result of forest biosecurity work being carried out under the Biosecurity Act. The Forest Produce Import and Export Regulations 1989 have also been recently revoked, to remove certain restrictions on the export of non-indigenous forest products.
The on-going development of IHS for plants and plant products is a very large task for plant biosecurity and the group is continuously seeking approaches to streamline their development.
Outbreaks of pests to which MAF officially responded (March 1998 to March 2001) include the downy mildew of carnations (Peronospora dianthi) and Cycas necrotic stunt virus. Programmes on the following forestry pests were initiated or continued: Asian Gypsy Moth (only one specimen found), Fall Webworm (Hyphantria cunea (Drury), Dutch Elm Disease, Subterranean Termite, Gum Leaf Skeletoniser, Painted Apple Moth, Peltoschema sultiralis, Taiwanese Stag Beetle.
The Biosecurity Authority develops policy and sets standards for the clearance of vessels, aircraft, passengers, cargo, mail, and associated facilities. The delivery of this service is provided by the MAF Quarantine Service (MQS) which is part of MAF operations.
Arriving luggage is 100 percent screened, either manually searched by quarantine officers, or x-rayed. Since 2001 the number of biosecurity detector dog teams has doubled. Close to 100 percent of mail is currently screened using x-ray technology at the international mail centre in Auckland. Nearly 468 000 containers landed during 2002-03, a 31 percent increase in containers compared with 1999-2000. A recent review of over 11 000 sea containers found that over 30 percent of loaded containers had undeclared wood packaging, and 6.1 percent of loaded containers and 1.6 percent containers had live regulated organisms inside. Some 21 950 line of fresh produce (fruit, vegetables and cut flowers/foliage) were imported commercially last year. Eleven percent did not comply with import requirements.
4.15 Pakistan
Major crops grown in different ecologies of Pakistan are wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, millet, rapeseed/mustard and tobacco. Minor crops included pulses, potato, onion, chili and garlic etc. The current yields of major crops in Pakistan are less than 25 percent of the world potential. Insect pests, diseases and weeds are the major constraint causing, on an average, losses of around 20 percent annually. The major insects’ pests include bollworms, white flies, aphids and jassids, cutworm, stem borers, codling moth, and fruit flies. The major diseases include rusts, foliar spots, root and crown rots, leaf curl and bunchy top viruses, powdery mildew, and malformation etc. Wild oats and Phalaris are the notorious weed. Moreover, pests in stores, yards and on trade commodities are encountered. The locust situation is calm and the forecast is the same in the coming months. With the exception of few acres of aerial spraying over orchards in Baluchistan, all the plant protection operations are carried out by the private sector.
The pest infestation picture is the same as in the previous years and the usual control operations continue to be taken. In the last four years a tree decline disease has affected mango plants in Shujabad area (Punjab). A reddening leaf malady has affected cotton crop in Sindh in 2002 and 2003; the cause is not known and is being investigated. Mite attack on dates caused heavy losses in Balichistan province in the last two years. Cotton leaf curl virus incited by a Gemini virus and vectored by white flies has been reported in southern Punjab and northern Sindh; a new strain of the virus - popularly called "burewala strain" rendered resistance ineffective in the current varieties. However, it is localized and is being contained through integrated management.
The guidelines on main international standards for phytosanitary measures received from IPPC from time to time have been considered and adopted according to the available and conditions prevalent. Pakistan is committed to implementing the international and regional phytosanitary standards and collaborating in this regard at regional and international level according to available resources. Training programmes on quarantine operations, pest risk analysis, and pest eradication, and upgrading the institutions would be highly beneficial for stringent implementation of standards. The IPPC 1997 has been ratified in July 2003 and information is being communicated to FAO, Rome.
Pesticides are registered under the Agricultural Pesticide Ordinance 1971 read with the Agricultural Pesticides (Amendment) Act 1992 and 1997. No pesticide identified by the Rotterdam Convention and Stockholm Convention is registered in Pakistan and hence cannot be used. However, there is need to further improve the enforcement of law and punishing the violations in given time frame. The Pesticide Act has been reviewed and placed before the Agricultural Pesticide Technical Advisory Committee of Federal Government for adoption.
Biopesticide research and development is being encouraged in the country. They are also being registered from international sources. Until 2000, IPM was not institutionalized in Pakistan as in other countries. An analysis of pesticide policy through a UNDP-FAO policy reform project paved the way for the establishment of a national IPM programme in December 2000. Under the umbrella of national IPM, currently three initiatives are being executed with international support in an integrated strategy:
- FAO-EU cotton IPM programme for Asia (2000-2004)
- ADB-FAO cotton IPM programme (2002-2004) and
- AGFUND-FAO pesticide risk reduction for women in Pakistan
While FAO-EU regional project and ADB-FAO project aim at building the capacity of the field facilitators of Agriculture Extension Department and farmers in growing healthy cotton crop through FFS approach, the project on pesticide effect on women seeks to initiate women’s participation in cotton IPM. Under the Government of Pakistan national IPM initiative that has been approved in July 2003 at a cost Rs.197 million for five years IPM is being pursued on system wide basis rather than commodity basis. The initiative seeks to reach 50 000 farmers by the end of year 2007.
4.16 Sri Lanka
The tropical environment in most parts of the country while being conducive for year-round production of tea, rubber, coconut, rice, maize, coffee, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, vegetables and fruit crops, also poses serious problems in plant protection.
The following pest outbreaks are reported:
- Coconut mite (Aceria guerreronis) which spread during the last three to four years is now fairly managed using chemical and biological means.
- Powdery mildew (Oidium spp) on Nephelium lappaceum orchards causing fruit drop is recurring.
- Aquatic weeds (Monochoria vaginalis, Hydrilla verticilliata, Colocasia spp and Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) affect irrigation systems while Parthenium hysterophorus is prevalent in dry lands. These weeds are being actively managed with collaboration of the Irrigation Department and Regional/Local Administration.
Integrated pest management (IPM) IPM programmes which have been in operation since 1984 with FAO support until 2002 contributed significantly to save costs including environmental costs. The programmes is now operated with local funds and modified to include a curriculum on soil ecology during training of trainers (ToT) and FFS. An intenerated pest and vector management (IPVM) programmes was initiated in collaboration with several organizations in rice eco-systems where vector-borne human parasites exist. IPM in vegetable crops is gaining popularity.
Legislative developments and NPPO structure Regulations under the 1999 Act are being finalized. Until such time they become operational, the existing regulations will continue.
International standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPM) Pest risk analysis for sensitive materials including bio-pesticides and organic fertilizers are yet to begin as scientists with skills are wanted.
New regional standards for phytosanitary measures (RSPM) Sri Lanka proposes:
- provision of guidelines and training to meet SPS requirements
- international collaboration in testing GM and LM materials
Pesticide regulation Sri Lanka has been active in limiting imports of highly toxic chemicals using administrative procedures. Sophisticated pesticide analytical facilities are yet to be installed. PIC procedures are implemented and the PIC secretariat has been informed of the banning of five chemicals.
Review of status of plant protection organization and strengthening FAO has agreed to provide experts to review and propose means for strengthening the NPPO in Sri Lanka.
4.17 Thailand
Plant protection development is aimed at utilizing IPM technology in the sanitary and phytosanitary areas. The policy and master plan of agricultural pesticide year B.E. 2545-2549 (2002-2006) is the principle guideline for implementation of the representative of the Government and private sectors. Highly hazardous pesticides will be banned following PIC Convention and FAO code of conduct. The National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standard (ACFS) is the new organization that will be commissioned to consolidate works in various agencies on agricultural commodity and food standards in harmony with pertinent international standards. Pesticide residue detection in fruit and vegetable and agriculture processing has to be strengthened to support the Government policy on "food safety year 2004".
4.18 Tonga
Tonga is one of the major exporting countries of agricultural products in the South Pacific region. Tonga seasonally imports fresh plant commodities from New Zealand, Australia and United States. As exports and imports of plants and plant products gradually increase, Tonga has concerns about introduction of new quarantine pests.
Under these circumstances, Tonga Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (MAFF) has implemented appropriate phytosanitary measures at ports of entry and has developed and improved plant quarantine systems during the last two years in order to prevent the introduction of new quarantine pests taking into account the consistency with the WTO SPS Agreement and relevant international standards on phytosanitary measures.
Tonga MAFF is the designated national plant protection organization. Within MAFF, Quarantine and Quality Management Division (QQMD) is the authority that oversees the quarantine and export operations and activities while the Research and Extension Division (RED) oversees and conducts the plant protection research and advisory activities. QQMD has been mandated to maintain the regulatory functions in quarantine, export inspection and quality control, and to facilitate trade. QQMD ensures systems and programmes are developed to maintain export quality assurance and ensure safe imports so to protect Tonga’s agricultural industries, its pristine environment and biodiversity, and the health of the people. QQMD also ensures importations of pesticides are in compliance with the national pesticide legislations and other international guidelines.
The QQMD is responsible for maintaining a quarantine barrier at the ports, airports and post office mail center in Tonga. MAFF-QQMD has developed the quarantine operation manual for quarantine inspectors. The manual contains policy and standards or guidelines for clearance of vessels, aircrafts, passengers, cargo and mail. The quarantine operations are cost-recovery for all services.
The role of the RED of MAFF is to develop and maintain research in plant protection and production, and manage plant pest surveillance programmes. In cases of pest incursions and outbreaks, both divisions are required to collaborate to efficiently and effectively control and/or eradicate the pest involved. Pesticide management programmes such as screening of applications for imports of pesticides, approval and issuing of permits to imports pesticides, training of farmers on safe use of pesticides and pesticide awareness programmes are also overseen by RED. Tonga Trust, a non-government organization also assists RED in pesticide awareness programmes and training for civil public communities.
MAFF-QQMD provides export inspection and certification. Depending on the importing country requirements, certification may be provided through end-point consignment inspection, or through audited, accredited exporter facility and inspection programmes.
4.19 Viet Nam
In the process of economic renovation and international integration, Viet Nam continues to achieve a great success in the agricultural sector over the past two years. Important crops with high potential of exports have been increasing in terms of production and export. Plant protection activities have contributed to assuring the food security programme and have played an important role in the international trade.
Pest infestation status during 2001-2003 were under control without significant losses to agricultural production. New occurrence of pests with high potential of spreading and causing damages recorded in Viet Nam during 2001-2003: Balansia oryzae (Ephelis oryzae) coconut beetle (Brontispa sp.), sugarcane white grub (Alissotum impessicolla) and pineapple root rot diseases.
During 2002-2003, the national IPM programme is running 13 IPM-related projects which are directly implemented by the National IPM Committee with assistance/collaboration from various international organizations. In the past two years, then National IPM programme has trained a total of 3 036 trainers and nearly 128 500 farmers. Community IPM activities have been carried out in 22 provinces with a wide range of studies conducted by IPM farmer groups. Activities include field studies, field days, village planning meetings, farmer training of trainers, FFS, rat management, disease management.
Pesticide registration and management scheme has been thoroughly reviewed. As of June 2003, about 350 a.i. with 1 164 trade names have been registered for use, 19 a.i. including 33 trade names of pesticides are restricted in use and 28 a.i. are banned in Viet Nam. Bio-pesticides are also widely applied to pest control with 59 products being registered in 2003. All recommendations of WHO, UNEP, FAO with regard to the PIC and POP conventions have been considered and accepted to protect the health of human and the environment.
The plant quarantine system of Viet Nam is being further strengthened in order to effectively carry out commodity inspection activities. The highest legal instrument concerning phytosanitary measures are the Ordinance on Plant Protection and Quarantine, the revision of which was approved on 25 July 2001. The legislation on plant quarantine was reviewed and amended in the light of the IPPC, WTO-SPS Agreement and other international standards. In order to implement ISPMs, Viet Nam has officially transformed three international standards into national ones and applied other ISPMs.
However, there remains some points related to regulatory and analytical capabilities that need to be improved in order to meet the objectives of plant quarantine. The number of national plant quarantine standards is still insufficient and great efforts to develop more standards to respond the rapidly changing situation are being made.
Regional and international organization reports
4.20 Japan (observer)
Japan is one of the major importing countries of agricultural products in the world. As a number of imports of plants and plant products gradually increase, Japan has some concerns about introduction of new alien pests.
Under these circumstances, Japanese plant quarantine authorities have implemented appropriate phytosanitary measures at the entry points and have improved plant quarantine systems in order to prevent the introduction of new alien pests taking into account the consistency with the WTO-SPS Agreement and relevant international standards on phytosanitary measures.
On the other hand, many countries have been requesting Japan to lift the import prohibition on their agricultural products. Japan has been lifting import prohibitions as soon as possible if the proposed phytosanitary measures secure the protection level equivalent to prohibition, upon evaluation from a technical and scientific view point.
Regarding research on plant quarantine, for the effective enforcement of plant quarantine and the appropriate implementation of phytosanitary measures based on a sound technical justification, Japan has been conducting the following researches:
- development of inspection techniques;
- pest risk analysis;
- development of disinfestation treatment;
- collection of pest information from other countries;
- biology of quarantine pests;
- accumulation of import and export inspection data.
4.21 ASEANET
Dr Soetikno, representing ASEANET, gave a brief overview of the scope and activities of ASEANET.
ASEANET is a regional technical cooperation network for sustainable development through capacity building in taxonomy. It was established in September 1998 after getting endorsed by the ASEAN senior officials on the environment (ASOEN) at its 9th meeting in Singapore.
The mission of ASEANET are:
- to assist member countries implement and fulfill national obligations under the convention on biological diversity (CBD);
- to play a lead role in regional activities in support of the global taxonomy initiative (GTI) and;
- to facilitate preparations by member countries in compliance with requirements of the SPS Agreement under the WTO.
ASEANET activities focus on four core areas of capacity-building:
- information and communication technology (ICT);
- human resource development;
- rehabilitation of collections;
- new technologies in identification and taxonomy.
For further information please visit the website: http://www.mardi.my/aseanet
4.22 CAB international (CABI)
Loke Wai Hong, regional representative for the South East Asia regional centre of CABI, introduced CABI as a global non-profit organization generating, validating and delivering knowledge solutions in the applied life sciences through information products and services and by utilizing its expertise in biodiversity for the benefit of agriculture, industry and the environment. The two major divisions of CABI are: CABI Bioscience and CABI Publishing.
CABI Bioscience is a multidisciplinary scientific capability providing research, training, consultancy and other specialized services worldwide. It was formed as the consolidation of four previous renowned CABI international institutes, viz. IIE, IMI, IIBC and IIP. It is dedicated to tackling some of the world’s major problems: raising agricultural productivity in sustainable systems; characterizing, conserving and utilizing functional agro-biodiversity; managing environmental change; protecting the environment from the damaging effects of human activity, and building human capacity. Its 18 programmes are placed under three main areas of activity: crop and sustainable pest management; ecology, systematics and biodiversity; environment and industrial microbiology.
CABI Publishing is a leading applied life sciences publisher, producing and marketing worldwide a range of printed and electronic products within the areas of agriculture, forestry, natural resource management, socio-economics, veterinary science and related disciplines, including human health.
CABI’s information for development programme assists developing countries in the acquisition and management of scientific information. Working in partnership with other Bodies, the programme: assists in the design and planning of sustainable library and information systems; contributes to capacity building through training in information and biological sciences, including use of the FFS approach; acts as a facilitator in the transition to new media delivery mechanisms such as the internet; and delivers information content in innovative formats, such as encyclopedic compendia, to meet developing country needs.
CABI seeks to alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods and health by preserving and using biodiversity, promoting sustainable agriculture, encouraging responsible use of natural resources and reducing the gap that exists in access to scientific and technical knowledge between developed and developing countries. CABI’s approach is inclusive, integrating stakeholders in participatory ways. The geographic foci of CABI’s development activities are sub-Saharan Africa and lower income countries of the Asia-Pacific and tropical America.
4.23 International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB)
The IRRDB, established in 1937, is a research and development network which brings together the natural rubber research institutes in virtually all the natural rubber producing countries. Much of the work of the IRRDB is centred on specialist groups, covering breeding, physiology, exploitation, plant protection, agronomy, biotechnology, technology and end uses, and socio-economics. Each group has a liaison officer who acts as the link between the group, the secretariat and the Board. Experts from each group meet together at regular intervals to exchange ideas and to formulate proposals for the new activities. Membership of the IRRDB introduces a valuable new dimension by enabling the research institutes to share their experiences and problems, to avoid wasteful duplication of work and when necessary to pool their financial resources in order to undertake activities which are too large or expensive for a single institute.
The IRRDB conducts country surveys of the severity and distribution of all known diseases of Hevea. Based on the close cooperation that exists between IRRDB pathologists, an "early warning system" has seen set up to advise all countries of the occurrence of outbreaks of extra-serious or unusual diseases. In recent years several such warnings have been issued, enabling the pathologists to take appropriate action. A good example is the Corynespora spp. outbreak in Sri Lanka. As a result, the IRRDB has organized two workshops on this disease.
For many years the IRRDB has stressed the need for a concerted effort on SALB, covering methods for eradication, prevention and treatment. The fact that high-yielding Asian clones in particular has been found to be extremely susceptible has resulted in the IRRDB organizing a collection expedition (1981), with the cooperation of the Brazilian plant breeders in the Amazon jungle. The objective was to provide a wider genetic base in effort to breed for SALB resistance. The IRRDB has also awarded SALB Fellowships to plant pathologists from member countries to carry out research in Brazil and enable them to have first-hand experience on SALB. It has also supported the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) in organizing SALB workshop in Brazil for the plant pathologists and plant quarantine officers from Asia and Africa.
The IRRDB Board congratulates the APPPC for its decision to organize the pest risk analysis (PRA) on SALB and would offer it fullest cooperation to ensure its success.
4.24 International tropical fruits network (TFnet)
Khairuddin Tahir, CEO of TFnet, gave a brief overview of the scope and activities of TFnet.
The TFNet, initiated by FAO member countries, was established in July 2000. It is a membership based network, intergovernmental and inter-institutional in nature. TFNet currently has 37 members global consisting of governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector coming from various regions of the world.
TFNet’s mandate is to promote the production, processing, consumption, marketing and international trade of tropical and sub-tropical fruits. Among the projects which have been and will be implemented by TFNet with its partners such as FAO, Fulbright programme and CABI are: conservation and sustainable utilization of traditional fruit species; developing technical guidelines on organic fruit cultivation; country studies on strategies and action plan for sustainable development of tropical fruit industry and global information system on tropical and subtropical fruits.
Other projects in the pipeline which are expected to be implemented in the next three years include: study on cooperatives and the new economy; productivity and competitiveness of tropical fruit export; clinical study on effect of fruit consumption on cholesterol level and blood pressure.
4.25 US Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)
Dennis Hannapel, USDA-APHIS, Director Australasia-Oceania, gave a brief overview of USDA-APHIS activities in the Asia and Pacific region.
In 2003, the major challenge facing the APHIS was the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. All of the plant protection and quarantine personnel at US ports of entry were transferred to the Border Protection Agency along with US Customs and Immigration. APHIS will still maintain responsibility over SPS trade issues, export certification and domestic programmes. APHIS has maintained an active presence in the Asia and Pacific region with offices in Japan, China, Korea, Australia, and the Philippines, to address bilateral SPS matters. Further expansion of APHIS involvement in the region is anticipated with potential new offices being projected for Taiwan, Thailand and India.
