<strong>China: Project Launched for Subject Research for Establishing Systems against Tobacco Downy Mildew</strong>

Source from:  TobaccoChina Online 11/12/2013

Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration and Yunnan Provincial Border Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Administration in southwest China's tobacco-producing Yunnan Province have decided to jointly launch a project for subject research for Establishment of Systems of Early Warning, Prevention and Control of Tobacco Downy Mildew As An Invasive Species in Frontier Regions in Yunnan.

The bilateral decision was based on the signing of the Memorandum on Cooperation in Strengthening Prevention and Control of Epidemic Diseases and Epidemic Situations of Tobacco and Fighting Law Violations and Crimes Involving Tobacco in Port Areas between the two administrations, and is intended to respond to and prevent risks of entry into China of tobacco downy mildew from epidemic areas in Myanmar as early as possible, and to ensure the safety of the tobacco industry in Yunnan and even in the whole of China.

The project was officially launched at a ceremony held on October 30, after five months of preparation by the two administrations.

In making the preparation, Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration and Yunnan Provincial Border Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Administration formed a big panel of experts including those from the relevant branches of Yunnan Provincial Border Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Administration, the technology centers of the relevant prefecture or city branches of Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration, Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Yunnan Provincial Scientific-Technological Information Research Institute and relevant higher educational institutions, as well as meteorologists and geographers.

The panel of experts will conduct on-site investigation of the tobacco-growing areas along the border, in efforts to fulfill initial risk assessment, work out systems of prevention and control of intrusion of harmful alien species against tobacco in frontier areas in Yunnan and relevant early warning and emergency response plans, and provide reliable and powerful basis for Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration to draw "redlines"on tobacco growing in frontier areas in Yunnan.

Those attending the ceremony included relevant staff members from the tobacco monopoly supervision and administration division and the division of science and technology of Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Monopoly Administration, Dehong Prefecture Tobacco Monopoly Administration and Ruili City Tobacco Monopoly Administration; leaders of the relevant departments of Yunnan Provincial Border Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Administration and staff members of its relevant institutions; relevant leaders of Dehong Prefecture People's Government; and experts and professors with Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Yunnan Provincial Tobacco Agriculture Research Institute, Yunnan Provincial Meteorological Bureau, Yunnan Normal University, Yunnan University, etc. Enditem