Shipment of insects and related arthropods into and out of India for research or commercial purposes

This paper provides a concise summary of the guidelines and regulations that govern the shipment of insects and related arthropods into and out of India. The Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003, that regulates the import of agents for biological control, and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and associated Biological Diversity Rules, 2004, that guide the transfer of insects and related arthropods for identification, taxonomic research, as well as commercial purposes, are discussed. Processing, packing and shipping procedures and protocols are described. Insect trade for some food and feed purposes is also mentioned. Finally, some implications, conclusions and recommendations are presented.