| CODE | LAS1059 | ||||||
| TITLE | Plant Health Controls: The Role and Duties of a Plant Health Inspector | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | I - Introductory Level | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Plant quarantine inspectors face a wide variety of tasks on a daily basis in the inspection of regulated articles. Harmonization of inspector training will increase the understanding and cooperation among National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs). The Unit will introduce participants to the various plant pests and diseases, explaining the differentiation and identification of symptoms linked with different types of organisms. Information together with knowledge of how these pests may be carried with regulated articles and moved between countries will be given, including an understanding of the impact such pests can have on commercial production, the environment and human health. An overview of national and international legislation governing Plant Health will also be delivered, together with pest risk analysis and management involved in the preparation of import requirements; export certification, product identification; awareness of the risk assessment process association with the introduction and spread of regulated pests administrative and technical inspection procedures; human resource management and personal skills; and occupational health and safety issues in relation to plant health controls. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the Unit the student will: - Acquire a basic knowledge of plant pests and diseases; - Be able to understand phytosanitary principles and recognize regulated quarantine and non-quarantine pests; - Be able to identify various regulated products and inspect various commodities; - Be familiar with administrative and technical control procedures related to phytosanitary clearance when a conveyance enters Malta; - Be familiar with national and international legislation governing Plant Health; - Be able to deal with occupational health and safety issues; - Be able to communicate and deal effectively with clients and situations relating to imports. 2. Skills: By the end of the Unit the student will: - Know and identify plant pests and diseases and recognize their symptoms of both regulated quarantine and non-quarantine quality pests; - Be able to carry out inspections on various commodities; - Be able to deal with and tackle situations during inspections; - Understand prevention and control systems; - Be able to make reference to national and international legislation relating to Plant Health; - Be aware of occupational health and safety issues during inspections. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Smith et al (EPPO/CABI), Quarantine Pests for Europe. EPPO/CABI. Second Edition, 1997. L.M. Smith and A.S. Roy (EPPO), Illustrations of Quarantine Pests for Europe, 1996. Gullan & Cranston, The Insects: An Outline of Entomology. 5th Ed, Blackwell, 2014. D. Dent, Insect Pest Management, 2nd edition, CABI Publishing, 2000. MA Jervis & N.A.C. Kidd (eds), Insect Natural Enemies: Practical Approaches to their Study and Evaluation, London: Chapman and Hall, 1996. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | ||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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