Term “quarantine” origins from Italian words – “quarante” and “giorni” (shortened - “quarantine”), that meant 40-days term when the vessels were kept at roadsteads, arriving to port cities of Italy from the eastern countries. This rule was laid down because of the danger of bringing the “Black Death” - plague. For the first time the term “quarantine”, as well as the principle of long isolation of vessels was introduced by legislation in 1734. Thus, more than 600 years ago the word “quarantine” had appeared. It was swiftly learned in all countries. During the middle Ages the word had a nature of a ban for entering the country at suspicion of bringing diseases - plague, and in case of contagious diseases epidemic – total isolation of cities and regions.
In the field of agriculture and forest economy the term “quarantine” was applied to measures, protecting the animal husbandry, plant growing and forestry of some countries from bringing and dissemination of dangerous foreign flora and fauna.
According to the experience of quarantine measures taken, efforts of any country are insufficient for protection of plant resources of the territory. As far back as the last century it became clear that there is the need of international agreements conclusion that would stipulate the unification of efforts of different countries for protection of cultivated plants from diseases, pests and weeds posing a danger for them. First step in organization of quarantine system of plants was made in 1877 in Lausanne (Switzerland) at the meeting of representatives from different countries that had to defend large areas of vineyards in the south of Europe from infection of phylloxera and loss. First quarantine measures were introduced in France on protection of vine plants that had suffered severely from phylloxera that had been brought in 1858 - 1862 from America together with young plants of vine. Following France a number of European countries have joined the quarantine restrictions in the field of plant cultivation, and then North America. The quarantine law was adopted in USA in 1912, which became the basis for quarantine systems construction for the Ministry of Agriculture. However, the quarantine law that was adopted in 1912 still prevails.
Germany, Austria-Hungary, Switzerland, France, Belgium and Holland signed text of the first International Convention executed in September 01, 1878 in Bern. Further on Italy, Spain, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia joined the Convention. In 1929 the International Conference was held in Rome with participation of 24 countries. In 1951 the text of Rome Convention was revised again by the international body on issues of provisions and agriculture (FAO) at UN and the draft of International Convention on plants protection was prepared. Convention was adopted by more than 50 countries. Soviet Union had joined this agreement in 1956.
Phytosanitary control on the territory of USSR has a history of more than 120 years. However, already in 1873 in Russia a Decree was promulgated that banned import of vines and their parts from abroad. In 1875 in order to prevent bringing of Colorado beetle and other pests the import of potatoes from USA was banned and the notification about the presence of cotton moth in Egypt was adopted. In 1925 a Decree of USSR Council of People’s Commissar that is regulating the potatoes import, was adopted, and in 1926 a Decree “Measures on fighting phylloxera and protection of cotton-growing”. In 1931 in Soviet Union Unified plants quarantine services was established at People’s Commissariat of Agriculture and a Decree of quarantine control of agricultural production and natural plants imports was developed. In 1934 a decree of People’s Commissars Council of USSR “Protection of USSR territory from bringing and dissemination of agricultural and forest pests” was published, and “Regulation in respect of external quarantine of plants” and “List of pests and diseases of plants of external quarantine, adopted for USSR” were developed on its basis. This list was changed more than once afterwards. In 1951 European and Mediterranean Organization on Plants Protection was founded in Europe (EOPP), and then agreements of foundation of such organization in Southeast Asia and Pacific basin were signed within the Rome Convention, and then USSR became a member of EOPP.
Modern level of knowledge in the field of biology and ecology of hazardous organisms allowed organizing quarantine on a scientific basis, make it more effective, purposeful and less burdensome. Nowadays, many countries are participating in development of international covenants in respect of plants quarantine, that facilitate sanitary borders protection, timely information about arising infection nidi.