Fumigation regulation has been relaxed for the import of wood logs by Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. For the same a memorandum has been issue by the department on March 30, 2017. In continuation of the department letter dated October 30, 2014 and office memorandum of January 2, 2017 the relaxation has been given. The letter states that the competent authority has decided that consignment(s) of all imported agricultural commodities, whose date of Bill of Loading in the country of export is June 30, 2017 or before and for which treatment with Mythyl Bromide fumigation is stipulated in Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import to India) order, 2003, will be allowed without offshore Methyl Bromide fumigation from these countries, which certify discontinuance of the chemical for Phytosanitary measure.
Penal fee in respect of these consignments will be charged, as prescribed in the PQ order, 2003. The other condition mentioned will remain unchanged. If non compliance reported in the import of such plants and plant product consignments will dealt as per the provisions of PQ order, 2003. However, earlier the government of India did not allow import of timber/logs without following the mandatory condition of fumigation at exporter’s end could have serious ramification for the country’s flora and fauna as well as environment in general. In accordance with the Plant Quarantine Order 2003, timber has to be fumigated by the exporter before sending it. The relaxation on fumigation on logs imports is welcomed by Indian Wood and Panel industry, which is sought for the complete abolish the rule for the benefit of Industry because Indian timber sector is heavily dependent of imported timber/logs