Definitions
- "Person" includes natural or juridical persons such as corporations, partnerships, associations, etc.
- "Director" refers to the Director of Plant Industry.
- "Plant Quarantine Officer" is any person appointed or designated by the Director.
- Defines "Country," "Carrier," "Plants," "Plant Products," "Potential Animal Pest," "Packing Materials," "Plant Pest," "Quarantine Orders," "Commodity Treatment," "Port of Entry," "Importation," "Plants/Plant Products in Transit," "Exportation," and "Phytosanitary Certification."
Restrictions on Importation
- Importation of plants, plant products, soil, and plant-origin packing materials capable of harboring pests is regulated through quarantine orders.
- Importation of potential animal pests is prohibited unless authorized by written permit for justifiable purposes.
Commodities in Transit
- Requires clearance by Plant Quarantine Officers at ports for plants, plant products, potential animal pests, plant-origin food provisions, and ornaments on carriers in transit.
Exportation Controls
- Inspection and phytosanitary certification of export consignments are mandatory if required by importing countries.
Inspection and Domestic Quarantine
- Director is responsible for inspection and enforcement of quarantines on imports, exports, and domestic movement of regulated commodities.
- Domestic quarantine measures include inspection, treatment, certification, and limited movement of plants/products to contain pest spread.
Appointment and Authority of Plant Quarantine Officers
- Director appoints Plant Quarantine Officers with written designation.
- Officers have police authority to inspect carriers, luggage, mails; enter premises storing or growing plants; inspect and treat imports/exports; confiscate or destroy prohibited materials; deny certifications.
Responsibilities of Importers and Exporters
- Must submit declarations disclosing consignor/consignee, purpose, details of commodities, origin, port, and carrier information at entry or embarkation.
Clearance of Carriers
- Owners/operators of carriers must notify arrival/departure, provide cargo manifests, and obtain clearance from Plant Quarantine Officers prior to departure.
- Customs authorities require Plant Quarantine Clearance for customs clearance issuance.
Fees and Charges
- Director sets rules for collection of regulatory fees for inspection, certification, permits, treatments.
- Fees fund the National Plant Quarantine Service but exclude government agencies, relief organizations, embassies, and certain economic development-related activities except for treatment expenses.
- Overtime and incidental costs for quarantine services outside office hours charged to requesting parties.
Cooperation and Rulemaking
- Director may call upon other government agencies for enforcement and public information.
- Authorized to promulgate special quarantine orders, rules, and regulations with Secretary of Agriculture's approval.
Plant Quarantine Board
- Includes key government officials, representatives from agricultural, economic, and import/export sectors.
- Advisory body assisting Director in formulation of quarantine policies.
- Meets quarterly or for special sessions; members receive per diem.
- Annual budget appropriation with unspent funds reverting to quarantine fund.
Penalties
- Violations or forgery of quarantine-related documents subject to fines up to P20,000 or imprisonment from correctional to mayor jail, or both.
Miscellaneous Provisions
- Separability: invalid provisions do not affect the rest of the Decree.
- Repealing clause: previous inconsistent laws/rules are revoked.
- Effectivity: immediate upon approval.