International Customs Day & Week 2022

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, JANUARY 30, 2022 20 CUSTOMS WEEK T HE PLANT Quarantine/ Produce Inspection (PQPI) Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is man- dated to ensure that only the high- est quality, pest-free plants, plant products and regulated articles are imported into and exported from Jamaica (Plant Quarantine Act 1993 and Agricultural Produce Act 1926). THE FOLLOWING are guidelines that must be adhered to by all indi- viduals exporting plants, plant prod- ucts and regulated items through the courier/postal services: NON-COMMERCIAL EXPORT 1. A maximum of twenty pounds (20lb) of agricultural commodity, irrespective of the number of pack- ages, will be allowed as non-com- mercial shipment. Quantities exceeding this amount must be sorted and packed at certified pack- ing facilities. 2. Items being exported must be packaged in a manner to ensure ease of opening by the inspector to facilitate inspection. 3. Items intended for export must only be packaged in new contain- ers. Reuse of packaging is strictly prohibited. 4. Items intended for export must be presented in the package that they will be exported in. 5. After inspection, packages will be sealed with a tamper-proof tape by PQPI that should only be removed by a competent authority (to include approved port security, customs and courier representatives in the receiving country). 6. Items to be exported should be properly labelled. Label must include the following: • Name and address of Sender • Name and address of Receiver • Name &Weight of Commodity 7. Items that have been inspected and certified by the PQPI Branch should be transported immediately to the courier service/postal service or stored in a manner to prevent infestation or contamination. 8. The courier service or postal service should ensure that the pack- age(s) are stored and transported in a manner to protect the contents from contamination by pests (in- sects, mollusc, fungus, bacteria, etc). 9. Items presented for export on behalf of a company will be treated as commercial regardless of amounts. NON-COMMERCIAL IMPORT 1. All persons importing plant and plant products, including regulated items such as soil, must obtain a per- mit from the PQPI prior to import. The permit will outline the require- ments for import. This applies to all imports irre- spective of online platforms used such as e-bay, Amazon, wish, etc.). 2. Import permit can be obtained online at JSWIFT and for further information please visit https:// www.jswift.gov.jm/home or call 876-977-6401 or 876-977-0637. 3. The imported items must ar- rive in Jamaica accompanied by the import permit from PQPI and a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country. 4. PQPI will conduct an inspec- tion of the imported item upon ar- rival and a fee may apply. 5. The PQPI reserves the right to confiscate and destroy all imported plants, plant products and other regulated items which do not meet the import requirements. NB 1. Shipments will be deemed commercial based on one or more of the following factors: • Customers requesting frequent inspections (monthly) • Consignment exceeding twenty pounds. 2. Items intended for export, clas- sified as commercial shipments, must be packaged in a facility certified by the Plant Quarantine/ Produce Inspection Branch. 3. Individuals may engage the services of a company having a cer- tified packing facility to sort and package the items on their behalf. 4. A letter must be sent from the facility verifying the aforemen- tioned undertaking, stating the commodities and weight. Importers are strongly encour- aged to follow the procedures outlined for obtaining permits or certification when trading plants or plant products and other regulated articles to prevent: 1. Delay in clearing shipment 2. Confiscation and destruction of unauthorised imported or exported plant, plant products and other reg- ulated articles 3. Re-export of plant and plant products andother regulatedarticles. For further information, please feel free to make contact with the Branch at 876-977-6401 (Kingston), 876924-8906 (Norman Manley Airport), 876-940-4146 (Montego Bay) or via email @ppq@moa.gov.jm Contributed by Plant Quarantine/ Produce Inspection Branch Non-commercial trade of plant and plant produce and other regulated article JCA plants tree at St Andrew Primary St Andrew Primary in Kingston benefited from the tree-planting activities undertaken by the JCA, through the Optimist Club of Newport, during Wellness Month in November 2021. “I want to thank the Jamaica Customs Agency for planting these trees at my school,” said Mickhail Patterson, 11-year-old student at St. Andrew Primary School. Mickhail was present to receive the donation on behalf of his school. Also present were Andrea Anderson, Icolyn Ferrigon Tavares, Cassandra Ambersley from the JCA and Colleen Gordon, Principal, St Andrew Primary.