1 
 NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR  PHYTO SANITARY MEASURES  
 
 
 
  
NSPM: 34 
 
 
 
 
Design and operation of post -entry quarantine stations for plants  
2013  
 
 
 
 
 
(This standard is approved by (the NPPO and) the Quarantine Committee of Nepal, chaired by the 
secretary of the Min istry of Agriculture Development on 1st December 2013 and, is submitted by National 
Plant Quarantine Program to the National Notification Authority to be notified to the WTO member states) 
 
 
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 Table of Contents  
1. Introduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 1 
1.1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  1 
1.2 References  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 1 
1.3 Defi nitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 1 
1.4 Outline of requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  1 
2. Background  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
2.1 Dete rmining the need for post -entry quarantine as a phytosanitary measure  .................  3 
2.2 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  3 
2.2.1  General requirements for PEQ st ations  ................................ ................................ .... 3 
2.2.2  Specific requirements for PEQ stations  ................................ ................................ .... 4 
PEQ stations should consist of one or more of the following:  ................................ ...............  4 
3. Completion of PEQ process  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 8 
Appendix 1: Requirements for PEQ stations  ................................ ................................ ...................  9 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
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 Abbreviations  
FAO  Food and Agriculture Organization  
HEPA  High-efficiency Particulate Air  
IPPC   International Plant Protection Convention  
ISPM  International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures  
NPPO   National Plant Protection Organization  
PRA      Pest Risk Analysis  
PEQ Pot Entry Quarantine  
PPD Plant Protection Directorate   
 
 
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 1. Introduction  
1.1 Scope  
This standard describes general guidelines for the design and operation of post -entry 
quarantine (PEQ) stations for holding imported consignments of plants, mainly plants fo r 
planting, in confinement in order to verify whether or not they are infested with quarantine 
pests.  NSPM preparation based on  guidelines and recommendations developed within the 
framework of the IPPC. This standard also adopted the principles, recommenda tions and 
format of ISPM to achieve international harmonization of phytosanitary measures with the 
aim to facilitate trade.   
 
 
1.2 References  
ISPM 1.   2006. Phytosanitary principles for the protection of plants and the application of  
phytosanitary measur es in international trade . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 2.  2007. Framework for pest risk analysis . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 5.  Glossary of phytosanitary terms . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 11.  2004.  Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environm ental 
risks and  living modified organisms . Rome, IPPC, FAO.  
ISPM 34 . 2010.  Design and operation of post -entry quarantine stations for plants  
Plant Protection Act 2007. National Plant Quarantine Program,  Plant protection Directorate 
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal  
Plant Protection Directorate 2005 . Final  Operation manual for Import and export 
certification  
The Plant Protection Regulation 2010.  National Plant Quarantine Program,  Plant 
protection Directorate Minist ry of Agriculture, Government of Nepal  Plant protection 
Directorate Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Nepal  
1.3 Definitions  
Definitions of phytosanitary terms used in the national standard can be found in ISPM 5 
(Glossary of phytosanitary terms ), Plan t Protection Acts 2007 and the Plant Protection 
regulation 2010.  
1.4 Outline of requirements  
Pest risk analysis (PRA) should be done to determine the phytosanitary measures for 
specified  plants commodities. For certain such commodities, the NPPO of the imp orting 
country should decide that post -entry quarantine is required to manage pest risks identified 
by PRA. Confinement of a consignment of plants in a PEQ station should be an appropriate 
phytosanitary measure in cases where a quarantine pest is difficult  to detect, where it takes 
time for sign or symptom expression, or where testing or treatment is required as per the 
Clause 12 of Plant Protection Regulation 2010.      
 
 
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For a PEQ station to function successfully (as per the Chapter 7, Clause 33 of Plant 
Protection Act 2007), its design and management should ensure that any quarantine pests 
that may be associated with consignments of plants are suitably confined, and do not move 
or escape from the station. The PEQ station should also ensure that consignments of plants 
are held in a manner that best facilitates observation, research, further inspection,  testing or 
treatment of the plants.  
PEQ stations should be  equipped  with minimum facilities like a field site, glasshouse and/or 
laboratory, amongst others. Th e type of facility to be used should be determined by the type 
of imported plants and the quarantine pests that may be associated with them.  
Considering the impact of pest PEQ stations should be appropriately located and comply 
with physical and operation al requirements based on the biology of both plants and 
quarantine pests that may potentially be associated with the plants.  
Operational requirements for PEQ stations include:  
 policies and procedures relating to staff requirements;  
 technical and operation al procedures; and  
 record keeping.  
PEQ stations should have systems in place to detect and identify quarantine pests and to 
treat, remove or destroy infested plant material and other materials that may harbour these 
pests. The NPPO should ensure that the  PEQ station is inspected on a regular basis.  
Only those planting materials may be released from the PEQ station at the completion of the 
PEQ period if they are found to be free from quarantine pests .   
2. Background  
Imported planting materials have potentia l to introduce quarantine pests. Considering 
phytosanitary measures for such commodities, NPPOs should apply measures based on the 
principle of managed risk (NSPM 1).  
In order to assess the pest risks and identify appropriate phytosanitary measures for 
particular pathways, a PRA should be carried out .  For many commodities that are traded 
internationally   NPPOs of importing countries identify risk management measures that 
mitigate pest risk without the need to apply quarantine after entry. However, for so me 
commodities, especially plants for planting, NPPOs may identify that a quarantine period is 
required.  
In some cases, NPPOs should decide that a period of quarantine is necessary for a specific 
consignment because of the impossibility of verifying the p resence of quarantine pests in  
 
 
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 that consignment at entry.  Operation manual for Import and export certification 2005 of PPD 
Nepal has coated seed may require  a minimum period of 8 -10 days, bulbs/tubers/ nursery 
stock/plant tissue culture 12 -24 hours (PPD 2 005). This allows for testing for the presence of 
pests, time for the expression of signs or symptoms, and appropriate treatment if necessary.   
The purpose of confinement in a PEQ station is to prevent the escape of pests associated 
with plants. When the required inspection, testing, treatment and verification activities have 
been completed, the consignment can be released, destroyed or kept as reference material, 
as appropriate.  
The guidelines described in this standard should also be relevant for holdin g other 
organisms in quarantine (e.g. quarantine pests, beneficial organisms, biological control 
agents) for which other specific requirements may also be needed.  
2.1 Determining the need for post -entry quarantine as a phytosanitary measure  
NPPO of Nepal  will be responsible to completed PRA which is necessary to determine the 
phytosanitary measures for specified commodities of plants for planting or other plants 
according to NSPM: Frame work for PRA  and NSPM: PRA for quarantine pest including 
analysis of  environmental risk and LMOs . The PRA determines the pest risk associated with 
the plants and identifies phytosanitary measures, which should include post -entry quarantine 
for a specified period, to manage the risk. The physical and operational characteris tics of a 
PEQ station determine the level of confinement provided by the station and its ability to 
confine adequately various quarantine pests.  
 
Once the post -entry quarantine measure has been determined by the NPPO of the importing 
country, the NPPO of Nepal should determine whether this measure can be met by any of 
the following:  
 an existing PEQ station (this may include isolated field sites) without modification  
 a modification of structural or operating conditions of an existing PEQ station  
 a new PE Q station designed and constructed  
 quarantine in a different area or country.  
 
2.2 Requirements  
2.2.1 General requirements for PEQ stations  
The requirements of PEQ stations for consignments of plants should consider the biology of 
the plants, the biology  of the quarantine pests and the biology of any vectors that may 
potentially be associated with them, particularly their mode of dispersal and spread. 
Successful detention of consignments of plants in quarantine requires prevention of any 
associated quaran tine pests from escaping and prevention of organisms in the area outside 
the PEQ station from entering the station and transferring or vectoring quarantine pests out 
of the station.   
 
 
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 2.2.2 Specific requirements for PEQ stations  
PEQ stations should consist o f one or more of the following:  
 a field site;  
 screen house;  
 Glasshouse;  
 laboratory, amongst others.  
The facilities of a PEQ station to be used should be determined by the type of imported 
plants and the quarantine pests that may be associated with them.  
NPPOs of Nepal should consider all appropriate issues when determining the requirements 
for the PEQ station (e.g. the location, physical and operational requirements, electricity/  
power supply, water supply, waste processing facilities, and the availabilit y of adequate 
systems for detection, diagnosis and treatment of quarantine pests). NPPOs should ensure 
that the appropriate level of confinement is maintained by inspections and assessments. 
Appendix 1 provides guidance on requirements for PEQ stations bas ed on the biology of 
different types of quarantine pests.  
2.2.2.1 Location  
In determining the location of a PEQ station the following should be addressed:  
 risks of accidental escape of quarantine pests   
 the possibility of early detection of the escape  
 the possibility of effective management measures in case of escape.  
PEQ stations should provide adequate isolation and stability (e.g. with minimal exposure to 
severe climatic or geological events). Suitable separation from susceptible plants and related 
plant species should also be considered (e.g. location away from agricultural or horticultural 
production, forests or areas of high biodiversity). However, it should be close to quarantine 
check post.  
2.2.2.2 Physical requirements   
The following should be con sidered while designing of a PEQ station:  
 the growth requirements of the plants;  
 the biology of any quarantine pests potentially associated with the consignment  
 the work flow in the station and specific emergency requirements (e.g. in the event of 
loss of electricity, water supply);  
 office facilities and supporting service infrastructure should be available as required 
and have suitable separation from plants in the PEQ station.   
 
 
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 Physical requirements to be considered include:  
 delimitation of the station  
 isolation of field sites  
 differentiation of internal access zones with different levels of confinement  
 structural materials (for walls, floors, roof, doors, meshes and windows)  
 size of the station (to ensure effective operation of the PEQ station and a ssociated 
procedures)  
 compartments for internal separation of consignments  
 access into and within the station (to avoid traffic in areas where plants in quarantine 
are being grown)  
 design of openings (for doors, windows, air vents, drains and other cond uits)  
 treatment systems (for air, water, solid and liquid waste)  
 equipment (e.g. specialized biological safety cabinets, autoclaves)  
 access to water and electricity supplies, including backup power supplies  
 footbath at the entrance  
 decontamination roo m for workers and clothing  
 use of signs  
 security measures  
 access to waste disposal facilities.  
 
2.2.2.3 Operational requirements   
PEQ stations should be operated by graduate Plant Protection Officers.  A procedural 
manual, approved by the NPPO will be ad opted.   
Operational requirements involve appropriate policies and procedures relating to 
management review, regular auditing, training of personnel, general operation of the PEQ 
station, record keeping and traceability of plants, contingency planning, hea lth and safety, 
and documentation.  
Staff requirements  
Requirements may include:  
 a suitable graduate qualified supervisor who has overall responsibility for maintaining 
the PEQ station and for all PEQ activities  
 qualified staff with responsibilities assi gned for the maintenance of the PEQ station 
and associated activities   
 appropriately qualified scientific support (NARC, NAST) staff or ready access to 
them.  
  
 
 
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 Technical and operational procedures  
Technical and operational requirements will be documented in a procedural manual and  
should include:  
 a limit on the number of plants held at any one time in the PEQ station so as not to 
exceed the capacity of the station in a way that could impede inspection or 
compromise quarantine  
 ensuring adequate space of d ifferent consignments or lots within the station  
 provision for disinfestations of the station before transfer of plants or in the event of 
pest occurrence   
 handling and sanitation procedures that prevent the spread of pests on hands, 
cutting tools, footw ear and clothing, as well as procedures for disinfestations of 
surfaces in the PEQ station  
 description of how plants are to be handled, sampled and transported to diagnostic 
laboratories for the testing of quarantine pests  
 use of specific confinement equ ipment (e.g. biological safety cabinets, cages) if 
needed   
 provision for assessment and control (e.g. maintenance and calibration) of equipment 
(e.g. autoclaves and biological safety cabinets)  
 use of dedicated or disposable personal protective equipment  
 provision for monitoring pest occurrence in the PEQ station and its vicinity (e.g. using 
traps)  
 appropriate inspection and/or testing  including grow on test  to detect quarantine 
pests  
 effective contingency plans for disruptions to or failures of quarant ine (e.g. fires, 
accidental release of plants or pests from the station, electrical outages or other 
emergencies)  
 a procedure for dealing with non -compliances including the appropriate treatment or 
destruction of plant material infested with quarantine pe sts, and the preservation of 
specimens if required  
 a system to enable full traceability of the consignments through the PEQ station (the 
traceability system should use a unique identifier from plant consignment arrival 
through handling, treatment and test ing, until release or destruction of the infested 
consignment)  
 criteria for determining what constitutes a breach of quarantine and a reporting 
system to ensure that any breaches and adopted measures are reported without 
delay to the NPPO   
 
 
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  procedures that  describe how documents are reviewed, amended and controlled  
 a schedule for internal and external assessments to check that the station meets the 
requirements (e.g. structural integrity and hygiene requirements)  
 provision for disposal and inactivation of  infested consignments  
 procedures for decontamination and disposal of waste, including packaging and 
growing media  
 restricting staff contact with plants that may be at risk outside the PEQ station  
 a means to control the entry of authorized staff and vis itors (e.g. escorting visitors, 
visitor access restrictions, recording system for visitors)  
 a procedure to ensure that all staff are adequately qualified, including training and 
competency testing where appropriate.  
 
Record -keeping  
The following records should be maintained:  
 a site plan of the PEQ station showing entrances and access points  
 a record of all PEQ activities conducted in the station (e.g. staff activities, 
inspections, pest detections, pest identifications, testing, treatments, disposal and  
release of consignments of plants in quarantine)  
 a record of all consignments of plants in the PEQ station and their place of origin   
 a record of equipment  
 a list of PEQ station staff and other persons authorized to enter the station (or 
specific parts  thereof)  
 records of training and skills of staff  
 a record of visitors.  
 
2.2.2.4 Diagnosis and removal of quarantine pests or vectors  
PEQ stations should have systems in place for monitoring for pest occurrence in the PEQ 
station and its vicinity as wel l as for detecting and identifying quarantine pests or potential 
vectors of quarantine pests. It is essential that the PEQ station has access to diagnostic 
expertise either from the staff within the station or other means. In any case the final 
diagnostic decision rests with the NPPO.   
PEQ stations should have access to expertise and facilities or equipment to treat, remove or 
destroy as quickly as possible any infested plant material detected in the PEQ station.   
 
 
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 2.2.2.5 Audit of PEQ stations  
The NPPO sho uld ensure that the PEQ station is officially inspected and monitored on a 
regular basis to ensure that the station meets the physical and operational requirements.  
3. Completion of PEQ process  
Consignments of plants should be released from the PEQ statio n only if they are found to be 
free from quarantine pests.  
Plants found to be infested with quarantine pests should either be treated to remove 
infestation or be destroyed. Destruction should be in a manner that removes any possibility 
of escape of the pe st from the PEQ station (e.g. chemical destruction, incineration, 
autoclaving).  
In special circumstances infested or potentially infested plants may be  
 returned to the country of origin or shipped to another country under restricted/safe 
conditions if co mplying with the recipient country’s phytosanitary import requirements 
or with the agreement of the corresponding NPPO  
 kept as reference material for technical or scientific work under quarantine.  
In such circumstances any pest risks associated with the mo vement of plants should be fully 
addressed.  
The completion of the post -entry quarantine process should be documented by the NPPO.  
 
 
  
 
 
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 The appendix is for reference purposes only and is not prescriptive part of the standard.  
Appendix  1: Requirements for PE Q stations  
The following should be considered by NPPOs for PEQ stations for consignments of plants. 
The requirements are based on the biology of quarantine pests potentially associated with 
the plants. Other requirements may be necessary to address the ri sks from specific pests.  
 
General requirements for PEQ stations   
 Physical separation of plants from other areas, including offices used by personnel  
 Adequate safeguards to ensure plants cannot be accessed or removed from the 
PEQ station without  
 appropr iate authorization   
 Growth of plants in pest -free growing medium (e.g. sterilized potting mix or soil -less 
growing medium)  
 Growth of plants on raised benches  
 Provision of suitable growing conditions for the imported plants (e.g. temperature, 
light and h umidity)  
 Provision of conditions conducive for the development of signs and symptoms of 
pests to be expressed  
 Control of local pests (e.g. rodents, whiteflies, ants) and exclusion from the PEQ 
station by sealing all the points of penetration, including e lectrical and plumbing 
conduits (except for open ground facilities)  
 A system and means for sterilization, decontamination or destruction of waste 
(including infested plants)  
 and equipment (e.g. cutting implements) before removal from the station  
 Appropri ate irrigation system to prevent transmission of pests  
 For glasshouses and screen houses: accessible surfaces constructed of smooth   
 
 
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 and impervious material for cleaning and effective decontamination  
 For glasshouses and screen houses: ceilings and walls t o be constructed of 
material resistant to deterioration and to attack by insects and other arthropods  
 Protective clothing (e.g. a dedicated laboratory coat and footwear or shoe covers, 
disposable gloves) to be worn by all staff and visitors and removed on  exit from the 
PEQ station  
 Decontamination of personnel upon exit of PEQ station areas containing risk 
material  
 
Biological characteristic (of 
quarantine pests)  PEQ station requirements  
Pests that are exclusively graft -
transmitted (e.g. some viruses or 
phytoplasmas, where vector s are known 
to be absent)   Facilities of the station may include field 
site, screen house, glasshouse or laboratory  
 PEQ station clearly delimited  
 Appropriate separation from potential hosts   
 Host material restricted to PEQ station only  
Pests spread by soil or water only, or in 
vectors that themselves are spread by 
soil or water only (e.g. cyst nematodes, 
nepoviruses)  
  Facilities of the station may include screen 
house, tunnel or glasshouse   
 Windows and doors locked shut when not 
in use, and when open,  windows should 
be fitted with screens  
 Footbath  
 Impermeable flooring  
 Appropriate treatment of waste and water 
(entering and leaving PEQ station) to 
eliminate quarantine pests  
 Appropriate treatment of soil to eliminate 
soil-borne vectors  
 Appropriate se paration of plants from soil  
 Prevention of drainage water reaching  
 
 
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 Biological characteristic (of 
quarantine pests)  PEQ station requirements  
water sources used to irrigate host plants  
 Soil traps installed in drains  
Pests or pest vectors that are airborne or 
mobile and are greater than 0.2 mm in 
size (e.g. aphids)   Facilities of the station may include screen 
house, glasshouse or laboratory   
 Self-closing and tight -fitting doors, with 
appropriate seals and sweeps  
 Entry through two doors separated by a 
vestibule or anteroom  
 A sink with hands -free operation in the 
anteroom   
 Anteroom with insecticidal spray   
 Mesh less than 0.2 mm (70 mesh) (e.g. for 
screen houses and over vents) to prevent 
pest or vector entry or escape   
 Alternative host material for the quarantine 
pest should not be within the expected pest 
or vector dispersa l distance from the PEQ 
station (in any direction)  
 Pest monitoring programme that includes 
the use of sticky traps, light traps or other 
insect monitoring devices  
 Inward directional air flow to be provided 
within the heating, ventilation and air -
conditio ning system  
 Backup electricity supply system for air flow 
systems and to maintain other equipment  
 Sterilization or decontamination of waste 
and equipment (e.g. cutting implements) 
before removal from the PEQ station   
 
 
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 Biological characteristic (of 
quarantine pests)  PEQ station requirements  
Pests or pest vectors that are airbor ne or 
mobile and less than 0.2 mm in size (e.g.  
some mite or thrips species)   Facilities of the station may include 
glasshouse constructed of regular glass, 
impact -resistant polycarbonate or twin -
skin plastic, or a laboratory  
 Self-closing and tight -fitting  doors, with 
appropriate seals and sweeps  
 Entry through two doors separated by a 
vestibule or anteroom  
 A sink with hands -free operation in the 
anteroom  
 Anteroom with insecticidal spray   
 Alternative host material for the quarantine 
pest should not be wi thin the expected 
pest or vector dispersal distance from the 
PEQ station (in any direction)  
 Pest monitoring programme that includes 
the use of sticky traps, light traps or other 
insect monitoring devices  
 Inward directional air flow to be provided 
within the heating, ventilation and air -
conditioning system  
 High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) 
filtration or its equivalent (HEPA filters to 
trap 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns in 
diameter)  
 Sterilization or decontamination of waste 
and equipment (e.g. c utting implements) 
before removal from the PEQ station  
 A backup electricity supply system for air 
systems to maintain negative air pressure 
gradients and for other equipment  
 Interlocking of the supply air and exhaust 
air systems to ensure inward flow at all 
times  
  
 
 
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 Biological characteristic 
(of quarantine pests)  PEQ station requirements  
Pests that are highly mobile 
or easily dispersed (e.g. rust 
fungi, airborne bacteria)  
  Facilities of the station may include glasshouse constructed 
of breakage -resistant  glass or twin -walled polycarbonate, or 
a laboratory  
 Footbath  
 Self-closing and tight -fitting doors, with appropriate seals 
and sweeps  
 Entry through two doors separated by a vestibule or 
anteroom  
 A sink with hands -free operation in the anteroom  
 Alterna tive host material for the quarantine pest should not 
be within the expected pest or vector dispersal distance 
from the PEQ station (in any direction)  
 Inward directional air flow to be provided within the heating, 
ventilation and air -conditioning system  
 A backup electricity supply system for air systems to 
maintain negative air pressure gradients and for other 
equipment  
 No direct access to the station from the outside of the 
building  
 Interlocked vestibule doors so that only one door at a time 
can be ope ned  
 HEPA filtration or its equivalent (HEPA filters to trap 
99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns in diameter)  
 All waste air filtered through HEPA filters  
 Sterilization or decontamination of solid and liquid waste 
and equipment (e.g. cutting implements) be fore removal 
from the PEQ station  
 Interlocking of the supply air and exhaust air systems to 
ensure inward flow at all times  
 Installation of a security alarm  
 A shower (may be required for staff members on leaving 
the station)  
 Monitoring systems for oper ational processes such as 
pressure differentials and wastewater treatment to prevent 
failure of essential systems