www.agridept.gov.lk

Mandate

The mandate of SCPPC is to ensure plant protection, seed quality and the management and conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in Sri Lanka. In fulfilling this mandate the activities of the center are planned with the objective of ensuring high good quality of locally produced and imported seeds and planting materials to specified expected standards, evaluating, characterizing and conserving plant genetic resources, conducting seed technology research to produce and maintain good quality of seeds and planting materials, conducting National Plant Protection activities and ensuring the strict implementation of the Plant Protection and Pesticide Acts. In addition the center also provides training for the production of high quality seeds and planting materials

In order to achieve these objectives the responsibilities are entrusted to seven units which function under the administration of this center.

Institutional Organization.

Seed Certification and Plant Protection Centre (SCPPC) of the department of Agriculture was formed in 1990 with the multi disciplinary mandate to provide a wide array of services to achieve growth excellence in Agriculture.

The centre encompasses seven units under its administration, namely

1. Seed Certification Service. (SCS)
2. Plant Protection Service. (PPS)
3. National Plant Quarantine service.(NPQS)
4. Plant Quarantine Unit (PQU)-Seaport.
5. Plant Quarantine Unit- Airport.
6. Registrar of Pesticide (ROP)
7. Plant Genetic Resource centre. (PGRC)

It also serves as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) and national inquiry point for phytosanitory related activities in Sri lanka

The major functions and the responsibility of the SCPPC and its major units are

• Plant quarantine activities in Sri lanka.
• Regulatory functions under the plant Protection Act No.35 of 1999, the control of Pesticide Act No.33 of 1980 and the seed act No.22 of 2003.
• Formulation of appropriate plans and policy decisions related to the production of high quality seeds and planting materials, Integrated Pest Management activities development of technologies for evaluation of characterization and conservation of plant genetic resources.
• Introduction of novel technologies.

Seed Certification Service.
The activities of the SCS is focused towards promoting development of the seed industry by assuring the quality of locally produced and imported seeds and planting material locally produced and imported seeds and planting materials available to the farmers. Distineness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing for candidate varieties for release and post control testing of local and imported seeds are important activities of SCS. Its activities are implemented via 28 regional units including 4 seed testing laboratories and 4 post control farm field.

Plant Protection Service.
It is entrusted with the responsibility of promoting pest control method in Agriculture crops that are not only environmentally sound but also economically viable and acceptable to the farmer. These broad objectives are expected to be reached trough development and implementation of integrated pest management strategies. Control of pest and disease outbreaks, seed fumigation and management of some noxious aquatic weeds and other invasive species in agricultural habitat are also mandatory functions assigned on PPS.

Plant Genetic Resource centre.
Efforts are made by PGRC to conserve plant genetic resources of the country, and to promote their use for the benefit of present and future generations. To achieve this centre explores, collects, introduces, conservers, evaluates and documents the genetic diversity of food crops and their related species.

Office of registrar of pesticide
The main function of this office is the enforcement of the control of pesticide act No. 33 of 1980; its amendments and regulations. The act provides provision to control import packing labeling storage formulation transport sale and use of pesticides trough registration of individual products. The office r of the registrar of pesticides has the national responsibility to ensure that only the high quality pesticides those are least hazardous to human health and environment enter the market in Sri Lanka.

National plant quarantine service.
The main responsibility of the NPQS katunayake is to facilitate the imports and exports of plants and plant products for the development of agriculture and related industries in the country. Issuing of phytosanitory certificates, inspection and treatment of imports and exports of plants and plant products. Dissemination of knowledge on all aspects of plant quarantine via training and awareness programmes for interested groups are the main activities of the NPQS.

Plant Quarantine Unit, Air port.

• Inspection of exports and imports plants and plant products at entry points.
• Issuing phytosanitort certificates.

Plant Quarantine Unit, Sea port.

• Inspection of exports and imports plants and plant products at entry points.
• Issuing phytosanitort certificates.
• Supervision of fumigations undertaken by private fumigators.

Plant Quarantine Unit, Gannoruwa.

• Issuing Phytosanitory certificates

Background
The SCPPC provides several significant services required to sustain agricultural productivity such as quality control of seeds, plant protection, control of pesticides, plant genetic resources conservation and plant quarantine. In order to ensure a safe and viable agriculture industry and preserving its prosperity in the future, regulatory aspects of agricultural activities have received due recognition in the programmes of the SCPPC. This is primarily achieved through legislation pertaining to plant protection control of pesticides and seed certification.

The Plant Protection Act No. 35 of 1999 in Sri Lanka make provision against the introduction and spread of any organism harmful to or destruction of plants and for the sanitation of plants in Sri Lanka. The Plant Quarantine Service fulfils the Quarantine and Phytosantary requirements of imported and exported agriculture commodities such as plants and plant products and seeds with the expansion of free market economy, influx of agricultural commodities has increased by leaps and bounds. Facilitation of International movement of pest free plants and plants products play a vital role in the development of agriculture and related industries in the country, which in turn enhances the national economy.

The control of pesticides Act. No. 33 of 1980, which regulates the import, storage, transport, marketing and use of pesticide helps minimize hazard on public health and the environment by their wide usage in agriculture. In addition, with a view to reduce the use of pesticides, the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was actively promoted and is now considered a great success in rice cultivation.

Moreover, as a signatory to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and Sanitary and Phytosantary Agreement of World Trade Organization (SPS/WTO), Sri Lanka is obliged to ensure the successful implementation of the terms of these agreements. In this context, Seed Certification & Plant Protection Center (SCPPC) serves as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Sri Lanka to comply with the conditions in these agreements.

Functions of SCPPC

• • Issuing Permits for Import
    Vegetable Seeds
    Animal Feeds
    Fibre Materials
    Fresh Fruits
    Festival Flowers
    Seed Potato

• Import Procedure

Import Application and Guidelines for Importers