NO Authority to clear any fertilizer based on 3rd party tests - NPQS

COLOMBO (News 1st); The National Plant Quarantine Service says it has no authority to clear any consignment of organic fertilizer based on the test results of a third party, as per the country's Plant Quarantine Legislation. Further, any consignment imported into the country without a valid import permit issued by NPQS is considered as unauthorized importation from which samples are not drawn and import clearance is not processed but to reship at the cost of the importer, said the National Plant Quarantine Service, exclusively to News 1st. It also added that the NPQS will re-test the fertilizer samples from China, even if the third party tests clear those samples of containing any pathogen. Accordingly, the Additional Director of the Plant Quarantine Service, Dr. Thushara Wickramarachchi stated that if the relevant samples were found unsuitable, there is no legal possibility of importing or accepting the relevant fertilizer shipments. According to the Plant Quarantine Service of Sri Lanka, import licenses have been issued for 145 samples of organic fertilizer within the last 3 months. The National Plant Quarantine Service states that licenses have been issued for 16 countries, and so far, 19 samples of organic fertilizer have been received in the country. Dr. Thushara Wickramarachchi stated that seven samples of organic fertilizer were found to contain microorganisms. On the 22nd of September, the Hippo Spirit ship carrying 20,000 metric tonnes of organic fertilizer left for Colombo from China’s Qingdao Port. However, the ship was diverted to Singapore after harmful bacteria were detected in the samples of this fertilizer shipment. The Hippo Spirit ship that didn’t return to China had left Singapore declaring it would be heading to the Colombo Port. Yet, on 14th October, the automatic identification system (AIS) used to track the ship had been deactivated at the Malakka Strait, and vessel trackers showed the last position of the ship as the Malakka Strait before it went out of range. Data available online showed the Hippo Spirit ship in Hambantota on 24th October under the name Seiyo Explorer. Since the Hippo Spirit and the Seiyo Explorer both share the same IMO number, it can be confirmed the Hippo Spirit is the Seiyo Explorer. The IMO Ship Identification Number is a unique seven-digit number that remains unchanged through a vessel’s lifetime and is linked to its hull, regardless of any changes of names, flags, or owners. Although the ship was seen in Sri Lanka’s waters off the Hambantota District on 24th October, the ship has gone out of range on tracking systems. But on Sunday (31), marine traffic websites confirmed that the ship has entered the Sea of Sri Lanka and on 2nd November, it was further confirmed that the vessel is off the coast of Weligama, some 61 nautical miles away. However, the Additional Director of the Plant Quarantine Service, Dr. Thushara Wickramarachchi stated that he has not been informed by the relevant authorities that the ship has arrived in the country so far.