Pest Risk Analysis
Freqently Asked Questions
- What is a Pest Risk Analysis?
- Why conduct a PRA?
- What does a PRA entail?
- Types of PRA
- How long does a PRA take?
- Requirements for conducting PRAs
- How do you know if your import needs a PRA?
What is a Pest Risk Analysis?
A process of investigation, evaluation of information and decision making with respect to a certain pest, commodity, plant, or plant produce.
Why conduct a PRA?
Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) is done to protect the country’s agriculture from damages that can be caused by harmful (quarantine) pests which can be brought in along with imported commodities.
Jamaica is obligated under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement to provide scientific reasons for restricting international trade of plant/plant produce
What does a PRA entail?
PRA evaluates the likelihood of the entry, establishment, and spread of a pest and the associated potential biological and economic consequences.
Once the likelihood and consequences are determined, a risk rating is assigned, and mitigative and management strategies are recommended to Policy Makers.
The process may culminate in either the granting of permit, prohibition of entry of the commodity, or permit granted with phytosanitary declarations.
Types of PRA
Pathway-initiated/Commodity-based PRA:
This is done when a plant/seed for planting or plant produce for con- sumption is being imported
Pest-initiated PRA:
Done in response to a pest/ disease of quarantine importance
How long does a PRA take?
A PRA involves several stakeholders as well as information gathering and evaluation to be able to inform the decisions of the Policy Makers. Pertinent information is not always readily available. A PRA can therefore take months to years to complete depending on stakeholders.
Requirements for conducting PRAs
- A import permit for plant/plant produce
- A completed PRA request form
- Technical Market Access Information-provided by the exporting country upon request
How do you know if your import needs a PRA?
- Goods have never been previously imported
- Goods originate from a country or region not previously approved
- Pest/disease status of the country or region changes
- New information on a particular pest/disease
- Process of regionalization is initiated