Kathmandu, July 29 The Plant Quarantine and Pesticides Management Centre (PQPMC) has requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) to separate the working areas among PQPMC, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DoFTQC) and animal quarantine offices. Due to lack of work division among these bodies, the work of quarantine and pesticide checking has been affected while there has also been duplication of work. Explaining the present issues on quarantine checking, representatives from PQPMC had submitted some recommendations to Agriculture Minister Chakrapani Khanal on Sunday. As per the recommendations, due to lack of work division, confusion regarding the working area has arisen among DoFTQC, PQPMC and animal quarantine offices. “As the working areas have not been separated, mostly works are being duplicated and sometimes one body overtakes the other’s jurisdiction.” Besides, quarantine checking has also been affected due to lack of skilled manpower and modern technologies. Hence, the government has to take effective action to sort out the issue of human resources, added the recommendations. As per PQPMC, quarantine offices do not have accredited laboratories that could ensure type-examination, independent type-testing and full quality assurance. Moreover, the quarantine pest list has not been updated for a long time. The PQPMC has also mentioned that the major problem in importing quality goods in the country is the open border shared with India. “As the country shares an open border with India, most of the goods are being supplied without any tests or checks being conducted, as a result of which substandard goods are being imported,” added the recommendations. The recommendations further mentioned that imports from Krishnanagar-Kapilvastu customs point has been halted currently after the PQPMC did not allow goods imported from India to enter the country without a phytosanitary certificate. Thus, PQPMC has urged Minister Khanal to strengthen the national plant protection organisations of the country. It has mentioned that the ministry has to bridge the gap between research centres and national plant protection organisations.