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The Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Service (PQPS) is department in the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of Zambia. PQPS is recognized as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Zambia by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). The department derives its mandate from the Plant Pests and Diseases Act, Cap 233 of the Laws of Zambia as the principal law but further, makes reference to a number of legislation such as the Noxious Weeds Act, Cap 231; the Coffee Act, Cap 228; the Cotton Act, Cap 227; the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018; and the Border Management Act No. 12 of 2018 among others.
PQPS is headed by a Director who is deputized by a Chief Plant Health Inspector. Below the Chief Plant Health Inspector, are Principal Plant Health Inspectors who are in charge of two main branches of the department namely international trade and domestic trade.
The core mandate of PQPS is to provide regulatory services that seek to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests in the country while facilitating safe movement of plants, plant products and other regulated articles. PQPS is recognized as the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Zambia by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN). The department derives its mandate from the Plant Pests and Diseases Act, Cap 233 of the Laws of Zambia as the principal law but further, makes reference to a number of legislation such as the Noxious Weeds Act, Cap 231; the Coffee Act, Cap 228; the Cotton Act, Cap 227; the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018; and the Border Management Act No. 12 of 2018 among others.
PQPS is headed by a Director who is deputized by a Chief Plant Health Inspector. Below the Chief Plant Health Inspector, are Principal Plant Health Inspectors who are in charge of two main branches of the department namely international trade and domestic trade.
Consistent with the provisions in the Plant Pests and Diseases Act, Cap 233, PQPS performs the following as main functions and duties
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This branch of the department is very key in ensuring phytosanitary standards that allow the movement of plants, plant products and other regulated articles are adhered to before consignments move in international trade. This is key to avoiding incidences of non-compliance that have the capacity to affect market access of products originating from Zambia. It is also critical in ensuring that import of plants and plant products is adequately to prevent introduction of quarantine pests into the country. It comprises 3 units namely: Pest Risk Analysis and Data Management (PDM) Unit, Standards and Regulations (SARs) Unit and the Pest Surveillance Unit (PS) Unit
The domestic trade branch of the department deals the coordination of phytosanitary activities with the country’s borders as well as the regulation of the movement of plants and plant products within the country. The aim is to prevent the spread of plant pests within the country while facilitating trade. The domestic trade branch is critical to ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of farm, nursery, fumigation, seed crop and commodity treatment inspections among others. There are three (3) units under this branch and these are: Phytosanitary Inspections Unit, Border Coordination and Quarantine Unit, and the Plant Pests Diagnostics and Laboratory Unit.
In Zambia Agriculture plays a key role of supporting industries by the production of the required raw materials , producing exportable agricultural goods, generating employment particularly in rural areas, as well as providing food stuffs essential for the sustenance of acceptable nutrition standards and levels.
Mulungushi House, Corner of Independence Avenue & Nationalist Rd
P o Box 50197 Lusaka, Zambia
Email: infor@agriculture.gov.zm
Phone number: +260211 254 645
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