Chapter 6. Managing MLN quarantine facilities: phytosanitary guidelines

A quarantine site/facility enables prevention of unintentional introduction of pathogens like MLN-causing viruses in MLN-free countries. The MLN Quarantine Facility serves as a platform for safe and thorough evaluation of materials originating at breeding stations or seed production fields typically from outside the country before its use in the breeding programs or deployment efforts in the country or in a subregion. The Quarantine Facility should be able to contain both the plant and any quarantine pathogen/pest potentially associated with it to prevent the risk of its spread or escape from the facility before the required inspection, testing, treatment, and verification activities are completed and the consignment is released. The facility may consist of a field site, screenhouse/glasshouse, and a laboratory. In this Chapter, we elaborate on the general and specific phytosanitary guidelines for managing MLN Quarantine Facilities in both MLN-prevalent and MLN-free countries.