THE PLANT Quarantine Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture has implemented new import regulations, fees and penalties to monitor the operations of importers.
The new regulations provide strict guidelines, which importers must follow when carrying out business at the island's ports of entry.
Acting Chief Plant Quarantine Officer, Sheila Harvey, told JIS News that the regulations would bring Jamaica in line with international standards and commitments "especially those under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreements and also to enhance the protection of our country's agriculture. The regulations will also enhance the legal authority we have in carrying out our duty and for cost recovery."
The rules, which came into effect on January 3, requires importers to pay fees to obtain import permits and for inspection of commercial shipments. The permits form part of the procedures manual used by the Plant Quarantine Unit and is valid for four months.
Outlining the charges, Miss Harvey explained that "for the single use permit, it is now $750 for weights not exceeding 22,000 kilograms) and $1,000 for weights over 22,000 kilograms. For multiple use permits, these are permits that are issued to persons who bring in produce on a weekly basis and for weights not exceeding 22,000 kilograms, it is $1,000 and for weights exceeding 22,000 kilograms, it is $1,500.
EXPORT COMPLEXES
Fees are payable at the Ministry of Agriculture's head office at Hope Gardens, St Andrew; and at the export complexes at the Sangster and Norman Manley International airports in Montego Bay and Kingston respectively.
Miss Harvey said that permit forms are available on the Ministry's website in the Plant Quarantine manual. "We are planning to have it listed separately so importers can go to the website and just click on the relevant form. Once we have an email address for any importer we can always email them to the person," she added.
Additionally, persons who import without a permit also commit an offence and shall be liable on conviction before a Resident Magistrate for a fine not exceeding $10,000.
