Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit
The Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Unit has been strong on partnerships, both local and foreign. Its outlook and future strategic planning will encompass continued collaboration with these key partners to build needed capacity driven mainly by results. It is a key regulatory entity of the Division of Agriculture and is charged with the responsibility of protecting our agriculture by firstly, ensuring that farmers’ investments are safeguarded through timely interventions and technical support and secondly, by ensuring that our borders are protected from evasive species.
Areas involved are:
- Policy guidance on Plant Health and Management
- Quarantine management
- Pest and Disease management planning
- Farmer and field intervention
- Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary
- National Agricultural Health and Food Safety
- Engagement, Partnerships and Networking
The Plant Protection and Quarantine Act (PDF 821 KB) 1986 provides the legislative authority for PPQ to execute its mandate.
The mission of the PPQ is to protect agricultural resources of Dominica by:
- Safeguarding agricultural resources from invasive exotic pests and diseases.
- Monitoring and managing agricultural pests and diseases existing in Dominica.
- Resolving and managing trade related Sanitary and Phytosanitary issues.
The Goals and objectives of the PPQ are as follows:
- Safeguard animal and plant resources against the introduction of invasive pests and diseases while satisfying international sanitary and phytosanitary trade obligations.
- Minimise agricultural production losses and export market disruption by quickly detecting and responding to new invasive agricultural pests and diseases or other emerging agricultural health situations.
- Minimise risks to agricultural production, natural resources, and human health and safety by effectively managing existing agricultural pests and diseases and damage to wildlife in Dominica.
- To improve and implement programmes to put integrated pest-management practices within the reach of farmers through farmer organizations and extension services.
The Unit consists of two smaller units:
- Ports (Quarantine Officers)
- Lab