St Kitts and Nevis: Ministry of Agriculture reveals plant import and export requirements

St Kitts and Nevis: The Plant Quarantine Unit of the Department of Agriculture has released the plant import and export procedures. Such a release has been done to protect the plant resources and agricultural ecosystems.

The ministry of agriculture has released the phytosanitary measures which are crucial in preventing the introduction and spread of harmful plant pests and diseases. This as well would work towards safeguarding the environment and ensuring the health of the agricultural sector.

The government of St Kitts and Nevis has taken an action through the phytosanitary measures to address the issues associated with the prevention of the introduction and spread of plant pests.

According to the procedure, the phytosanitary certificate is to be issued by the plant Quarantine Unit. This certificate is the official document which makes it clear that the plant which is going to be exported has been inspected, meets all the import requirements of the respective country.

The ministry has also outlined that the plant material must be taken to the Department of Agriculture for physical inspection by the plant quarantine unit before it is exported. The cost will include E.C$5.00.

Moving towards the criteria to be followed for the imports of plant products into St Kitts states first of all, one has to apply for the import permit before ordering or bringing the consignment. After that, it is necessary to have the phytosanitary certificate which is to be collected from the exporting country.

Thereafter, the consignments imported are to be inspected on arrival, and they must be in a non-soil medium. Moreover, the plant seeds are required to be free from pest and disease symptoms. For safety, these also need to be disinfected using insecticide or fungicide.

Significantly, all the information provided must include the details like name, address of the importer, supplier. Also, the count and the names of items which are to be imported are required to be detailed.