Day of creation of the State Plant Quarantine Service in Russia

Every year, June 5th marks the Day of the Establishment of the State Plant Quarantine Service. This professional holiday begins its history on June 5, 1931. It was then that the State Quarantine Service was formed in the USSR. Its powers were transferred in 2005 to Rosselkhoznadzor. Trade in plant products between states has been going on since time immemorial. However, the first law regulating it was adopted only in the mid-17th century. in France, when an epiphytoty (epidemic) of stem rust arose among cereals. By the end of the 20th century. More than a hundred states have organized special services to check the quality of imported and exported products. In Russia, the first law regulating plant quarantine was introduced in 1873. According to this document, the import of phylloxera-infected grapevines was prohibited. In 1931, the first list of plant pathogens was compiled, and 4 years later - a list of quarantine weeds. Currently, the Russian Federation has a list of quarantine objects dated December 26, 2007. Plant quarantine is a set of actions aimed at protecting the state's plant resources from quarantine pests divided into 3 groups:• insect pests (for example, Asian longhorned beetle, Japanese beetle, fruit weevil, apple fly);• weeds (for example, ciliated sunflower , Carolina nightshade, hairy string, axillary elderberry);• causative agents of various diseases (nematode, fungal, bacterial and viral). If they enter the country, the quarantine service is obliged to localize the source of infection and eliminate it. Plant quarantine can be either external or and internal. If the first monitors the export and import of potentially dangerous plant resources, the second controls the timely detection of quarantine outbreaks and conducts phytosanitary monitoring. The tasks of plant quarantine include:• checking seeds and planting material, as well as plants, fruits, berries and vegetables for the presence of insects, weeds and pathogens;• issuing quarantine permits and certificates;• laboratory examinations;• disinfection of contaminated materials;• disinfection of transport arriving from quarantine zones or from abroad;• educational activities - familiarizing the population with the activities of the service, creating scientific and reference literature. Plant quarantine is based on the knowledge base of biology and botany, chemistry and ecology. Rosselkhoznadzor employees conduct scientific observations and research in subordinate research institutes. Inspectors of the plant quarantine service are legally granted the right to be in ports, stations, airports and railway stations, border crossings, post offices, elevators, agricultural enterprises and take samples of plant products for subsequent analysis. In their activities, service employees interact with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and the Federal Customs Service. According to tradition, on June 5, festive events are organized in honor of employees and veterans of the service, exhibitions of achievements and master classes for the exchange of best practices, and educational work is also carried out among the population about the features of the service’s activities.