INDIAN WOOD PACKAGING - IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
The Government of India, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture has notified the following Order for the purpose of prohibiting and regulating the Import into India of agricultural articles with effect from 1st June, 2004.
The new rule will be effective 1st day of June 2004.
The Order may be called Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order 2003.
The Order may be called Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order 2003.
"All consignments being imported into India by air and sea require a phytosanitory certificate from the country of origin if articles have been packed with packaging materials. This is mandatory. "
(i) "Packing material"means any kind of material of plant origin used for packing which include hay, straw, wood shavings, wood chips, saw dust, wood waste, wooden pallets, dunnage mats, wooden packages, coir pith, peat or sphagnum moss etc.
Definition of the Sub Clause 22.
No article packed with packaging materials shall be released by the proper officers of customs unless the consignment is accompanied by a phytosanitory certificate in respect of said packing material.
No article packed with packaging materials shall be released by the proper officers of customs unless the consignment is accompanied by a phytosanitory certificate in respect of said packing material.
Provided that if no phytosanitory certificate is furnished in respect of said packaging material, the proper officer of customs shall grant out of charge only after clearance is obtained from local plant quarantine authorities, who shall grant clearance from the quarantine angle and may, if deemed fit, subject the said packaging material to treatment at the expense of the importer.
Provided further nothing contained in this clause shall be applicable to packaging materials in respect of bonafide passenger containing goods other than plants and plant products.
If the Phytosanitory certificate does not accompany the shipment penalty is to be paid to Customs. The procedure for obtaining permission and clearance from Customs / Local quarantine authorities is extremely expensive, cumbersome and lengthy. Besides shipments / consignments will accrue demurrage / detention which will all be at the cost of the Shipper/importer.