Representatives from different ministries and institutions have agreed in principle to take steps toward updating the country’s plant quarantine methods.

The agreement, based on recommendations from consultants from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), could pave the way for legislative changes that would help Seychelles build its capacity for a comprehensive plant quarantine programme advocated by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

The FAO consultants, who last week conducted a three-day training course on various plant quarantine activities, made the recommendations during the National Seminar on International Treaties Governing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, held at the Mahe Beach Hotel on Friday.

Dr Jeffrey Jones, Plant Quarantine Officer for the FAO, said that Seychelles, like many other developing countries, currently lacked some of the procedures and facilities necessary for an IPPS-calibre plant quarantine programme.

However, he did say that Seychelles has an advantage in that its small size would allow easier coordination between the different ministries and organisations involved. 

“There is a role for all of us to play in protecting the country’s national interests,” Dr Jones said.  “It is a national response that (the FAO) is after.”

While officially opening the seminar Finley Racombo, principal secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, said that bringing together “stakeholder” organisations, such as the ministries for environment, tourism and finance, along with Customs and Immigration, was vital for Seychelles to be on a path consistent with the IPPC.

IPPC plant quarantine standards aim to facilitate international trade while protecting environments from the threats of invasive species and diseases.So far, 45 countries have agreed to implement IPPC regulations.

Ravindran Subramaniam, acting director for the Plant Protection Services Section of the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, said that the FAO’s recommendations would be further studied in collaboration with all stakeholder organisations.

“Together we’ll be able to prioritise the measures and actions that are most appropriate for Seychelles” he said.

In the meantime, Mr Subramanium said that several FAO consultants would remain in the country to conduct a laboratory-based pest and disease identification workshop this  week.  They will also help with the creation of a computerised pest database.

According to Dr Jones, incorporating a pest database, whereby potential invasive pests could be quickly identified, is one of the most important steps to getting the country’s plant quarantine measures up to IPPC standards.

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