Phytosanitary Issues and Actions for International Trade of Agriculture Products in Nepal: A Review

Agriculture remains the single most important sector of the Nepal's economy. It is the major source of livelihood of about 80% of population, while this sector is greatly threated by invasion of noxious plant pests in field and postharvest commodities. There is a great risk of entry, establishment and spread of invasive alien pests with their devastating economic impacts on crop production and trade as well. Therefore, a robust and stringent plant quarantine system is required for the prohibition of entry and spread of such pests associated with trade off agricultural products. Being a member of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and World Trade Organization (WTO) of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement, Nepal is obliged to implement International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs). In short span of time, Nepal has made remarkable progress in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary field since last decade. Several laws, regulations, policies, guidelines and standards related to SPS have been formulated and implemented in Nepal. Organizational set up to carry out quarantine authority has been amended and placed in federal jurisdiction in the new constitution. The Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) of NPPO-Nepal has been successfully completed with the technical assistance of IPPC and financial support of World Bank. Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) of around 25 crops, pest data base of more than 35 crops and their official documentation are the major milestone in the history of SPS development in Nepal. However, the main shortcomings are pest survey-surveillance and pest risk analysis, which are suffering from operation of dedicated diagnostic laboratory with skilled human resource. This task aims to examine current sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues in Nepal, along with visible interventions at both technical and policy levels to strengthen the national SPS system. It specifically explores the risks posed by exotic insect pests and their potential spread from native habitats to new export destinations. Therefore, this formal assessment of SPS development in Nepal is a valuable resource for quarantine officials, researchers, academicians and policy makers.