An MOU on Plant Health Cooperation between the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of India and the National Plant Protection Office, Ministry of Agro Industry, Food Production and Security, Republic of Mauritius was signed today. H.E. Hon. Satya Veyash Faugoo, the Minister of Agro Industry, Food Production and Security and Shri Madhusudan Ganapathi, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius signed the MOU on behalf of the Governments of Mauritius and India, respectively.

2.   The MOU provides for, inter alia, exchange of information on phytosanitary measures and regulations, plant protection/pest control technologies, pesticide regulatory policies, bio-security and risk management, good agricultural practices including integrated pest management and survey/surveillance activities to delineate pest free areas. The MOU provides for bilateral co-operation on issues arising under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, International Plant Protection Convention (IPCC) and other related international agreements.

3.  The MOU agrees to provide a phytosanitary certificate, incorporating the details required under IPCC norms or as agreed on a bilateral basis, for exported plants and plant materials, certifying that the exported materials meet the official plant quarantine requirements of the importing country.

4. The signing of the MOU is a further step in the development and consolidation of bilateral co-operation between the Government of India and the Government of Mauritius.

Port Louis
October 13, 2009