How to get Phytosanitary Certificate in India

A phytosanitary is an essential document that is needed while exporting plants, plant-derived products, and other agricultural products. This certificate confirms compliance of export products with the phytosanitary measures of the importing country, that is, the absence of pests, diseases, and other pathogenic organisms on exported products. In India, it is issued by the Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Storage Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This certificate must be attained for international trade rules and the health status of world agriculture systems to be observed and maintained. In this blog, you will learn about the definition of a phytosanitary certificate, its need, eligibility criteria, how to apply online, and which documents are required to be attached for its issuance in India.

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What is a Phytosanitary Certificate?

A Phytosanitary Certificate is a certificate issued in the form of a document by the NPPO (National Plant Protection Organization) of the exporting country. It assures the world that plants, plant products, or any other restricted products to be exported are not contaminated by pests, diseases, or any other prohibited substances. The exporting country is then issued with this certificate, which is very vital in international trade, especially of horticultural crops, because it affirms to the importing country that the produce meets there phytosanitary requirements. Otherwise, one may have a problem with delayed shipments, rejected shipments, or even your goods could be destroyed at customs.

A phytosanitary certificate is issued after the inspection done by the authorized officers makes an examination of the consignment for signs of pests or diseases. If so, treatments like fumigation or irradiation are provided to obtain the standard level for the product. As for common information about the type and quantity of the goods, the certificate usually provides the name of the plants in Latin and the measures taken.

Benefits of Phytosanitary Certificate

The benefits of a phytosanitary certificate extend beyond compliance and regulation, offering advantages to both exporters and importers.

• Preventing Pest Spread: It assists in safeguarding agriculture from the introduction of destructive pests and diseases into the importing country.
• Facilitating Trade: This certificate is required by many countries for customs clearance; therefore, each exporter and importer must invariably obtain it.
• Boosts Market Access: This certificate offers assurance of product safety and quality, which assists exporters to make entry into global markets besides developing trade relations.
• Minimizes Quarantine Risks: Having a phytosanitary certificate decreases the possibility of undergoing quarantine inspection or a long stay in the customs, making goods transit more efficient depending on the contents.
• Reduces Legal Risks: A valid phytosanitary certificate shields exporters and their products from possible legal matters or legal cases if a shipment is found to contain injurious pests or diseases upon arrival.

Procedure to obtain Phytosanitary Certificate

Understanding how to get a phytosanitary certificate is a several-stage process to guarantee that exported plant products meet the requirements of the importing country’s phytosanitary standards. Below is the general procedure of the process:

• Understand Requirements: Check with the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) or the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine, and Storage, or visit the Plant Quarantine Information System (PQIS) online portal to find out what phytosanitary requirements must be accomplished for your product.
• Prepare Documentation: A phytosanitary certificate is obtained by providing comprehensive documentation like an application form, invoices, packing list, etc., and any necessary permits. These documents allow inspection of your plant products and serve as proof that your products conform to phytosanitary regulations.
• Application Submission: Complete your application form and submit it to the officer in charge at any of the plant quarantine stations. Attach all necessary papers and pay the inspection fee as per Section Appendix-2.
• Inspection Process: Your consignment will be examined in detail by an authorized officer either at your premises or at a designated quarantine station. This may include:
  • Sampling and laboratory testing
  • Visual inspections and specific treatments if necessary
• Issuance of Phytosanitary Certificate: The phytosanitary certificate will be issued if the consignment passes inspection. The certificate includes:
  • Exporter’s and consignee’s information
  • Description of the shipment
  • Compliance with import requirements of the destination country

Documents Required for Phytosanitary Certificate

For phytosanitary certification in India, several documents are required for compliance with the international standard set for the export of plants and plant products. Here’s the list of required documents:

• Permit issued by the importing countries for exporting the seeds or propagating plant material
• The wildlife clearance certificate is needed if the export commodity is covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Flora and Fauna.
• Copy of invoice
• Packing list
• Shipping or airway bill
• Letter of credit
• Trade Agreement
• Purchase order
• Export license
• Fumigation certificate
• Export inspection fee and fumigation charges

Fee Charges for Phytosanitary Certificate

A request for outside inspection shall be done outside the plant quarantine at the exporter’s instance at a cost of Rs. 10 per visit on outside inspection charges within the municipal borders of a town or the corporation limits of the city.

The exporter has to bear the transport and other expenses, including the dearness allowance of the PQ officer and his staff in case they are posted for inspection outside the city or town. If the shipment is not removed immediately after re-inspection, the exporter has to bear charges of Rs. 10 per cubic meter for the storage per day.

For the services for fumigation and treatment of the consignment, the exporter is required to pay an additional Rs. 25 for each container. Fees for inspection must be prepaid or at the earlier time the inspection tour is over but before PSC is given.

Note:- Professional fees for phytosanitary certification is ₹10,000 only with Professional Utilities.

Validity for Phytosanitary Certificate

The validity of the phytosanitary certificate (PSC) depends on the nature of the consignment exported.

• Perishable Goods: The certificate is valid for a maximum of 7 days. This short validity period ensures that the goods maintain their phytosanitary quality up to the time of transportation.
• Non-Perishable Goods: For non-perishable items, the validity is up to 30 days. This allows slightly longer shipping preparation while maintaining phytosanitary requirements.

Conclusion

The phytosanitary certificate simply refers to an important document that enables the export of plants and plant-based products with confidence that the products that are being exported are not infected with pests, diseases, or any other harmful organisms. This is a legal requirement for exporting products from India’s plant protection, quarantine, and storage departments that prove that its products meet international phytosanitary standards, eliminating legal chances in the trade processes. Documentations, inspections, and treatments, and any other treatments as required, form the discourse of certification. This certificate costs ₹10,000, and the validity of the certificate ranges from 7 days for perishable products and 30 days for non-perishable goods to smoothen the flow of plant products across the world.

What is a phytosanitary certificate?

A phytosanitary certificate is an official document that attests that a consignment of plants or plant produce entering an importing country is free from pests or diseases that might be dangerous to the agricultural health of the recipient country.

Why do you need phytosanitary?

Measures involving plant health are very essential in checking the environmental invasions of injurious pests and diseases. These measures maintain agricultural ecosystems, food hygiene, and global market compliance by adhering to the legal procedures of importing countries.

What documents are needed to obtain a phytosanitary certificate?

Required documents typically include an import permit from the country of destination, the invoice, the packing list, the shipping or airway bill, the export license, and certificates of fumigation, if any.

What are the fee charges for obtaining a phytosanitary certificate?

The fees may include Rs. 10 for the firm’s inspection outside its own municipal limits and Rs. 25 for fumigation per container, along with additional charges for transportation and storage, if applicable.

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