The construction of an animal and plant quarantine center officially started in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ) in Fujian province on June 19.

It is China’s first quarantine center with comprehensive treatment of animals and plants, according to a report by local news portal ptnet.cn.

The project, with an investment of 483 million yuan ($78 million), will take up an area of about 13 hectares at Jianmin village in Aodong town.

The construction consists of three stages, with the first focusing on quarantining seedlings with soil.

“The first stage is set to finish by the end of this year, when we will be able to quarantine flowers, seedlings and fruits imported from across the world,” said Yin Honglei, an official with the center.

With more quarantine functions to be realized step by step, the center will help Pingtan apply for the qualification of a designated port for imports of plants, fruit, meat and aquatic products, experts say.

The center will also serve as a platform for scientific cooperation on animal and plant quarantine between institutions, colleges and enterprise from across the Taiwan Straits.

Officials attend a groundbreaking ceremony of an animal and plant quarantine center in Pingtan, Fujian province, June 19. [Photo/ptnet.cn]