Organization:International Rice Title: General Guidelines for Importation, Use and Handling Wild Rice Document No.

Research Institute Seeds and/or Vegetative Parts

Issuing Unit: SHU Prepared by: Approved by: Revision No. Page: 1/6

Introduction: Preventing the introduction of diseases, weeds, and any potential pest to areas where these biological
hazards are not present, is the primary function of any plant quarantine office of that location. The
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), an international non-profit and tax exempt organization
engaged in research on rice has been authorized by the Bureau of Plant Industry thru a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) under certain conditions to establish a seed health testing laboratory and post-entry
quarantine sites in its own area and to conduct/undertake, under BPI’s supervision, important quarantine
services for incoming and outgoing seeds, non-seed biological materials, and soil samples.

Purpose: Wild rices, as a good source of useful genes for rice improvement and a subject of many researches, are
widely used at IRRI. Some of these wild rices are annuals while most of them are highly rhizomatous
and/or have perennial life cycles. If not properly monitored and controlled, they may spread and become
major weeds in rice fields. To prevent possible introduction and spread of these wild rices within IRRI fields
and farmer’s fields adjacent to the institute, the following implementing guidelines have been prepared.

Scope: This document covers only importation and handling of wild rices and their progenies up to the fourth generation
in which the characteristics may be considered as homogenously closer to the cultivated species.

A. Requirements for the importation of wild rice seeds and /or vegetative plant parts and procedures in
handling within the institute.

1. All staff, visitors, and scholars intending to import wild rice seeds and/or vegetative plant materials should apply
for an Import Permit way at least one month before the scheduled shipment. A copy of the application form
(BPI Q Form 1) is available at Seed Health Unit. The application form requires the following information:
a. Name, address, and telephone number of the importer
b. Common name of seeds/plant material
c. Scientific name of seeds/plant material
d. Quantity (in kg/seedlot or number of plants)
e. Purpose of importation
f. Place of origin
g. Name and address of exporter
h. Means of conveyance;
i. Post of entry in the Philippines
j. Final destination (including sketch of location);
k. Expected date of arrival

2. As required by the Quarantine office, an experimental outline specifying the use of the imported material and a
Php 20.00 regulatory fee should be submitted together with the filled out application form. The outline should
include the objectives of the study, details of research methodologies, duration of the experiment, and other
information that will help facilitate post-entry monitoring of imported materials.

3. Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) will be conducted by the Plant Quarantine Service prior to the approval of the
application and the issuance of the Import Permit. Approval of the application to import will be based on the
following:
a) List of potential pests (insects, fungi, viruses, nematodes, weeds, etc.) from the intended country of
origin.
b) Other information from international databases on pests, research institutions, scientific publications,
relevant literature, and personal communication with authorities on wild rice.
c) Duration of Pest Risk Analysis shall depend on the availability of information for assessing the risks
involved in importing the commodity.
d) The processing time for the Import Permit is a maximum of two weeks after the completion of the
Pest Risk Analysis.

4. Upon approval of the application by the Plant Quarantine Service, the Import Permit (BPI Q Form No. 2) will be
issued in quadruplicate to the Importer. The original copy should be kept by the importer for presentation to the
Plant Quarantine Service officer at the port of entry; the duplicate is forwarded by the importer to the sender for
submission to the Plant Quarantine Service of the country of origin for compliance of the terms and conditions
stipulated in the Philippine Import Permit; the third copy is given to the collector of Philippine Customs at the
port of entry; and the fourth copy is filed at the Plant Quarantine Service.

5. All incoming materials should be mailed to this address:

Name of the recipient
c/o Seed Health Unit
The International Rice Research Institute

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 College, Laguna
Philippines 4031

6. Upon receipt of the materials at Seed Health Unit, the Plant Quarantine Service officer and a Seed Health Unit
staff verify the completeness of the accompanying documents (Phytosanitary Certificate, original copy of the
Philippine Import Permit, seedlist, other relevant documents regarding the imported materials, and Material
Transfer Agreement). In the absence of an Import Permit and/or Phytosanitary Certificate, the materials are
destroyed or returned to the sender at the expense of the importer.

7. How to process for post-entry clearance:

I. Wild rice seeds are subjected to different routine seed health tests for post-entry clearance based on
the conditions stipulated in the Philippine Import Permit. The following are conducted for each
incoming shipment:
a. Fumigation using the appropriate fumigant at standard dosage and exposure time.
b. Dry seed inspection for all seedlots. This includes visual or low magnification examination and
cleaning for quarantine objects such as insects, broken seeds, discolored seeds, deformed
seeds, other plant parts, and seeds of other crops; soil particles, weed seeds; and any sign of
seed infection or infestation.
c. Routine seed health testing (RSHT) and grow-in tests.

II. Vegetative materials are inspected for the presence of pests and diseases. Damaged/infected
plants/plant parts are subjected to further laboratory testing to identify causal pests. Materials shall
be stored in a facility previously approved by the Plant Quarantine Service until all tests and the
sanitization process have been completed.

8. Results of seed health tests will be the basis of the Plant Quarantine Service’s recommendation regarding
quarantine measures to be implemented by the Seed Health Unit (SHU).

9. The following quarantine measures are applied based on routine seed health testing results:
a. apply treatment, if treatable, or
b. return to the country, or
c. re-export to other accepting countries, or
d. destroy, or
e. release to importer

10. In the event that the seeds and/or vegetative plant parts are rejected and destroyed, returned to the sender or
re-exported to other accepting countries, Seed Health Unit shall inform the importer/recipient. Expenses for
returning the materials to the sender or re-exporting to other accepting countries shall be charged to the
importer/recipient.

11. Materials that meet all post-entry requirements shall then be dispatched to the importer/recipient or his/her
representative upon recommendation of the Plant Quarantine Service officer.

12. The importer/recipient should coordinate with the Plant Quarantine Service and Seed Health Unit regarding
dates of planting so that the corresponding crop health monitoring can be conducted by the Plant Quarantine
Service officer and a Seed Health Unit staff during the implementation and conduct of the research/study.
Regular monitoring of the plants is conducted by the Plant Quarantine Service officer and a Seed Health Unit
staff with or without prior notice to the importer/researcher.

13. Movement of the imported materials outside the greenhouse or area of final destination previously approved by
the Plant Quarantine Service and exchange of materials among researchers from within and or from other
institutions are allowed only upon securing a written permit from the Plant Quarantine Service. The request for
movement should include the following information: purpose, intended/proposed location, and quantity. The
intended location or planting site must be contained area or must comply as required for the initial
user/importer. Only the Plant Quarantine Service can approve requests for moving materials. The Plant
Quarantine Service shall confiscate materials that are moved without authorization.

14. Upon the termination of the experiment, all vegetative parts, other plant debris, and/or all materials used in the
study should be destroyed under the supervision of the Plant Quarantine Service officer and a Seed Health Unit
staff. The manner of disposal is as follows:

a. Separate above-ground parts of the plant from the roots, dry, place in plastic bags and incinerate
immediately in the area previously approved by Plant Quarantine Service.
b. Loosen soil around the roots to expose rhizomes/stolons. Dry the rhizomes/stolons, put in plastic
bags, and incinerate in the disposal area previously approved by Plant Quarantine Service.
c. Only the soil should be disposed in the open pit previously approved by the Plant Quarantine Service.

B. Procedure in handling of wild rice seeds secured from the TTC Genetic Resources Center (GRC)

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1. All IRRI and non-IRRI scientists/researchers who are intending to work with wild rice seeds (planting,
destructive analysis, etc.) and have requested seeds and or plant parts from TTC-GRC should secure a written
approval from the Plant Quarantine Service. Non-IRRI scientists/researchers should also comply with the
intellectual property rights (IPR) protocol of IRRI.
2. A work-plan of the research/study should be attached to the letter of request to PQS. The work-plan should
include the following information:
a. Purpose of the requested wild rice seeds
b. The species, plant parts if not seeds and type of wild rice to be used (i.e, early generation crosses,
parent materials, harvested seeds from derived progenies, etc.)
c. Intended or proposed location, duration and the researchers involved in the study.
3. IRRI scientists/researchers/trainees/fellows and students using wild rice germplasm should observe the
required quarantine conditions in the conduct of their research/study. Failure to comply with any of the
quarantine conditions will result in the imposition of sanctions deemed necessary by the Plant Quarantine
Service.
4. Materials should be planted in a contained area or in screened or glass house
a. All imported wild rice parent materials and progenies up to the fourth generations should be planted
only in screened houses, greenhouses or any contained location previously approved by the Plant
Quarantine Service and with the following conditions:
The containment facility should be enclosed, with one entrance and exit, provided with locks, and
should be kept closed at all times.
1) The facility’s entrance/exit should have a “double door”.
2) The facility should have a “restricted entry” sign posted prominently at the entrance/exit to
indicate its status.
3) Waterways/drainage canals in the screenhouse should be provided with screen mesh and/or
traps/catch basins to prevent “escape” or spread of wild rice seeds.
4) Only IRRI personnel authorized by the project/research leader are allowed to enter the facility
and planting areas as well as to handle wild rice materials.

b. All seeds harvested from these materials should be stored in storage areas previously approved by
the Plant Quarantine Service. The concerned scientist/researcher should inform Plant Quarantine
Service in writing if the harvested seeds would be used for another planting or continuing
experiment/research.
c. Movement of plants/plant parts/products outside of the approved containment facilities and
exchanges of materials among researchers and/or research institutions will only be allowed upon
securing a written permit from the Plant Quarantine Service. Only the Plant Quarantine Service can
approve requests for movement of these materials.
d. Upon termination of the experiment, all vegetative parts, other plant debris, and/or all materials used
in the study will be destroyed under the supervision of the Plant Quarantine Service officer and a
Seed Health Unit staff.
e. The manner of disposal is as follows:
1) Separate aboveground parts of the plant from the roots, dry, put in plastic bags, and
incinerate immediately in area previously approved by the Plant Quarantine Service.
2) Loosen soil around the roots to expose rhizomes/stolons. Dry rhizomes/stolons, put in plastic
bags, and incinerate in previously approved area designated by the Plant Quarantine Service.
3) Only the soil should be disposed in the open pit previously approved by the Plant Quarantine
Service.

Note: The drying and incineration area should be enclosed with screens and fenced and the drying
should not be used for other purposes.

5. Materials for field release

a. No parent materials or early generation crosses (O. sativa x wild rice and relatives) should be planted
in the field.
b. Early generation crosses should be planted only in concrete tanks within the specified “wild rice area”.
Research/studies using such crosses should be conducted within a short duration only. No seeds
should be produced from these crosses.
c. Harvested seeds from derived progenies intended for subsequent planting should be kept in areas
previously approved by the Plant Quarantine Service.
d. Scientists/researchers intending to use seeds harvested from derived progenies for research/study
should secure written permit from the Plant Quarantine Service.
e. In the event that the seeds will be used for laboratory analysis, a separate disposal container should
be used to contain/accommodate wastes. Disposal should be done in the presence of the Plant
Quarantine Service officer and a SHU staff.
f. Only IRRI personnel authorized by the project/research leader are allowed to enter the screenhouse
or field where the wild rices are planted.
g. Movement of plants/plant parts/products outside the screenhouse previously approved by the Plant
Quarantine Service and exchange of materials among researchers/institutions are allowed only upon
securing a written permit from the Plant Quarantine Service. A workplan of the research/study should
be attached to the letter of request for movement. The workplan should include the following
information: the kind of wild rice to be used; intended/proposed location; duration; and researchers

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 involved in the study. Only the Plant Quarantine Service can approve requests for movement of
these materials.
h. Researchers/scientists should coordinate with the Plant Quarantine Service and Seed Health Unit so
that the corresponding crop health monitoring shall be conducted during the progress of the research/
study.
i. In the event that materials are infected or infested with a quarantine pest, and/or any unexpected
circumstances resulting from the research/study occur, Plant Quarantine Service will impose
appropriate quarantine actions. The Plant Quarantine Service can request IRRI and other institutions
for assistance for testing, identification, and control of suspected quarantine pests.
j. Upon termination of the experiment, dry all vegetative parts to be disposed, put in plastic bags or
containers, and incinerate in area previously approved by the Plant Quarantine Service. Soil in
concrete tanks should be sieve rhizomes/stolons. Dry the rhizomes/stolons, put in plastic bags, and
incinerate in disposal area previously approved/prescribed by the Plant Quarantine Service. Disposal
should be done under the supervision of a Plant Quarantine Service officer and a Seed Health Unit
staff.
k. Upon termination, the land used in the research/study should not be used for planting for two months.
An optimum environment should be provided to allow germination of “drop” seeds. Seedlings from
these “drop” seeds should be destroyed in a manner prescribed by the Plant Quarantine Service. The
researcher/user of wild rice should monitor the periphery of the planting site for drop seeds especially
the area along the drainage canal or any possible waterway at least a season after the termination of
the study.
l. Scientists/researchers should inform Plant Quarantine Service and Seed Health Unit regarding the
termination of the research/study.

All applications/requests/communications should be coursed thru Seed Health Unit.