Major responsibilities of plant quarantine include:
1. The quarantine of imported and exported plants and plant products.
2. On board quarantine for imported bulk grains and cereals.
3. Fumigation, disinfection or disinfestation service.
4. Passenger quarantine of Kaohsiung harbor and airport.
5. On-site inspection and quarantine in exporting country.
6. Isolation quarantine of the designated plants and plant products.
7. Postal parcel quarantine.
Laws and Regulations
1. Plant Protection and Quarantine Act.
2. Enforcement Rules of Plant Protection and Quarantine Act.
3. Measures of executing Plant Protection and Quarantine.
4. Quarantine requirements for the Importation of Plants or Plant Products into the Republic of China.
5. Notes of processing fumigation, disinfection and disinfestation at the fumigation facility for animal and plant quarantine of the Kaohsiung Branch Office, APHIA.
6. Notes of plant quarantine procedures to the animal and plant quarantine objects carrying by passenger or postal parcel.
7. Notes of execution for the plants and plant products imported and designated to isolate plantation quarantine.
8. Other relative regulations and administrative orders.
Services
1. Procedures of Plants and Plant Products Quarantine
2. Importation Quarantine
The Kaohsiung Branch of APHIA conducts quarantine of plants and plant products imported or exported through Kaohsiung Harbor including vessels, harbor area, passenger terminal, container terminal and warehouse to check out any invasion of injurious pests and diseases, especially to detect quarantine pests and diseases which are prohibited or permitted under certain conditions. The materials subjected to import quarantine are fruits, vegetables, crops, flower plants, bulbs, seedlings, seeds, woods, nursery and other plant products. Recently, woods quarantine is the major one.
3. Exportation Quarantine
Conforming to the requirements and phytosanitary regulations of the importing country, the Kaohsiung Branch of APHIA provides the service to quarantine the plants and plant products and issues phytosanitary certificate for exportation .
4. Important measures and programs
(1) Measure of issuing phytosanitary certificate immediately at freight terminal for imported fresh fruits and vegetables
To promote efficiency and rapid clearance of quarantine procedures, we send electronic message of pass to customs immediately at freight terminal for imported fresh fruits and vegetables which are inspected and found free of injurious pests, when all necessary documents are submitted in accordance with plant quarantine regulations. This innovative measure helps importers to clear the customs rapidly and wins highly favorable comments. About 95% of fruits and vegetables are now subjected to the measure.
(2) On board quarantine of imported bulk grains and cereals
For bulk grains and cereals, such as wheat, barley, corn etc, the plant quarantine officer usually boards on the vessel to conduct the quarantine. The measure helps the importer to clear customs faster and releases berth jam pressure of the wharf.
(3) Program of surveillance for detection and alert of the Mediterranean fruit fly, codling moth, peach twig borer and other quarantine pests
In Taiwan , most imported fruits are from the United States of America , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , Argentina , France , Italy , South Africa etc. To strictly prevent the Mediterranean fruit fly, codling moth, peach twig borer and other quarantine pests from invading this country, the Kaohsiung Branch Office of APHIA not only strengthens the inspection but also conducts a monitoring program to set up pheromone traps at selected container terminals and in harbor area for early detection and alert of any invasion of new pests.
(4) Fumigation service and fumigation facilities
Fumigation treatment of disinfection or disinfestation is one of our major work items. The fumigation facilities are located at NO.30 wharf, comprises five fumigation chambers and one fumigation room. The major fumigation schedules are set both for the imported plants and plant products on which injurious pests are found or against the quarantine requirements, and for those as are required by the importing country.
(5) Passenger quarantine
a. All plants or plant products carried by immigrated passengers by cruise ship or aircraft must declare to APHIA or custom when arrived in the seaport / Kaohsiung international airport.
b. Failure to declare will be fined NT＄3,000 or more.
c. Since October 1st 1998, passengers are prohibited from carrying fresh fruits into Taiwan.
d. Live plants and plant products must be in accordance with the requirements of Plant Protection and Quarantine Act.
The following plant or their products must be applied to quarantine:
1. Live plants (Including seeds and bulbs), live insects and soil.
2. Vegetables (Including fresh or chilled).
3. Cut flowers and cut branches.
4. Dried plants or its products (Including herbs and spices).
5. Cereals.
(6) Postal parcel quarantine
As informed by the post office, our quarantine officer will inspect the mails or parcels including plants or plant products at post office as soon as possible, so as not to delay the mail delivery.
5.List of registered suppliers of wood packing materials facilities of the Kaohsiung branch, APHIA
