Plant Quarantine Regulations on Seed Movement

About the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Office of Agricultural Regulation (OAR), and Plant Protection Research and Development Office (PPRDO)

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) is a leading agency for agricultural research and development studies on various agricultural disciplines concerning crop and farm mechanization; provides services on the analysis, inspection, quality inspection and certification to facilitate both domestic and international trade, while ensuring sustainable practices. Its core functions include research, quality assurance services, regulation, technology transfer, and program implementation.

The DOA is organized into four (4) distinct clusters with two core agencies dedicated to plant quarantine: (1) the Office of Agricultural Regulation (OAR), which handles plant quarantine operational tasks, (2) the Plant Protection Research and Development Office (PPRDO) , which provides technical support for plant protection efforts.

The OAR is tasked with regulating the movement of plants and related products following established plant quarantine policies. Its responsibilities include issuing import permits, inspecting and clearing consignments, conducting inspections, and issuing phytosanitary certifications, notifying non-compliance of trading partners, and implementing phytosanitary measures. OAR manages 50 strategically located plant quarantine stations throughout the country.

On the other hand, the PPRDO focuses on research and development activities for crop pest management, supervises pesticide efficacy trials, and provides technical services to stakeholders such as inspection certain export/import consignments and pest diagnosis. PPRDO conducts pest risk analysis and surveillance, and facilitates knowledge transfers to stakeholders. It is divided into five specialized research groups: Entomology and Zoology, Plant Quarantine, Plant Pathology, Plant Pest Management, and Weed Science.

To ensure sanitary and phytosanitary conditions of trade partners, the DOA promulgated several policies and guidelines for the movement of seeds. Other related phytosanitary regulations/guidelines are also listed below.

• Plant Act B.E. 2518 amended by Plant Act (No.2) B.E. 2535 and Plant Act (No.3) B.E.2550
• Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 amended by Plant Quarantine Act (No.2) B.E. 2542 and Plant Quarantine Act (No.3) B.E. 2551
• Notification of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Re: Specification of plant pests as prohibited articles under the Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 (No. 7) B.E. 2550
• Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Capsicum Seeds B.E. 2563 (2020)
• Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Eggplant Seeds B.E. 2563 (2020)
• Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Tomato Seeds B.E. 2563 (2020)
• Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Maize Seeds B.E. 2563 (2020)
• Notification of Department of Agriculture re: specifications, methods, and conditions for pest risk analysis for the importation of prohibited articles
• International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 2, " Framework for pest risk analysis
• International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 11, "Pest Risk Analysis for Quarantine Pests"
• International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 12 “Phytosanitary Certificate”
• International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 38 “International movement for seeds”
• International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 45 “Requirements for national plant protection organizations if authorizing entities to perform phytosanitary actions”

A. Three classifications of plants and plant products: (1) prohibited articles (2) restricted articles and (3) unprohibited articles.

1. Prohibited articles: The importation or bringing in transit of prohibited articles for commerce or other purposes which shall be declared by the Director-General under the recommendation of the Committee, shall be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, subjected to pest risk analysis, and complied with the criteria, procedures and conditions stipulated by the Director-General under the recommendation of the Committee and published in the Government Gazette. While the importation or bringing in transit of prohibited articles for research purpose shall be accompanied with a phytosanitary certificate, approved by the Director General, under the recommendation of DOA’s designated committee.
   
   The prohibited articles are as follows:
    
   • Any part of the following plants:
     Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. (pineapple)
     Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (tea) (excluding dried tea leave)
     Carica papaya L. (papaya)
     Cocos nucifera L. (coconut)
     Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm)
     Manihot esculenta Crantz (cassava)
     Theobroma cacao L. (cocoa)
     Zea mays L. (corn) (excluding pop corn imported for consumption)
   • Any part of the following plants in genus:
     Citrus spp.
     Coffea spp. (excluding fresh coffee bean)
     Fortunella spp.
     Gossypium spp. (excluding cotton lint)
     Hevea spp. and carriers i.e. fresh latex, cup lump, slab and scrap
     Jatropha spp.
     Musa spp.
     Oryza spp. and carriers i.e. rice bran (excluding white rice, broken rice and parboil rice)
     Poncirus spp.
     Saccharum spp.
     Sorghum spp.
   • Any part of the following plants in family:
     Solanaceae (excluding cigarette, tobacco and cigar)
2. Restricted articles: the restricted articles should be imported or brought in transit through a plant quarantine station and should be accompanied with phytosanitary certificate. The import permit is not required for the restricted articles. Upon the consignment’s arrival at the Plant Quarantine (PQ) station, the importation must be reported accordingly. The sampling will be conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) to detect regulated pests. The consignments will be held until pest inspection and detection are completed and the test report is obtained.
3. Unprohibited articles: The imports or brings in transit of unprohibited articles must provide a phytosanitary certificate and declare the import or bringing in transit to the plant quarantine official.

B. The procedure for the importation of seeds is outlined in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Process flow for the Importation of seeds

Import clearance is based on the conditions of the importing country. This process involves the following steps:

• 1. Document Verification: Upon arrival at the plant quarantine station, PQ staff verify the accompanying documentation.
  
  Table 1. Key documents for import

  No.	Document Title
  1	Import permit (prohibited articles)
  2	Phytosanitary Certificate
  3	Non-GMOs Certificate
  4	Customs export entry form or import entry form
  5	Commercial invoice
  6	Packing list
  7	Bill of lading/airway bill

• 2. Sampling: PQ staff will collect samples according to ISTA rules.
• 3. Quarantine Pest Inspection: These samples will be analyzed according to ISTA rules for quarantine pest inspection and will undergo laboratory analysis. The laboratory testing involves the detection of insects, mites and plant diseases including fungi, bacteria, phytoplasma, viruses, viroids, and nematodes, and weed seeds
• 4. Decision and Reporting: If quarantine pests are detected after laboratory analysis, the imported plants will be treated (if available) or re-exported or destroyed If no quarantine pests are found, the plants will be released to the importers. Following this, a report will be issued to the applicant.

C. Pest Risk Analysis Pest risk analysis (PRA) is critical for seed-related trade in the region. The seed crops (prohibited articles) such as eggplant, tomato, pepper and maize had undergone PRA based on International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 2 “Framework for pest risk analysis”, ISPM 11, "Pest Risk Analysis for Quarantine Pests" and ISPM38 “International movement for seeds” The specific plant quarantine pests are indicated in the attached notifications mentioned above.

Phytosanitary certification considers and follows the import regulations of the trading partner. This process includes two types of certificates:

1. Phytosanitary Certificate: Requesting and obtaining a Phytosanitary Certificate for the original export of seeds. PQ officials will conduct inspections and appropriate tests for specific pests based on the import requirements (field inspection/seed health testing) of the destination country. A phytosanitary certificate will be issued if the seeds comply with the requirements of the destination country.
2. Phytosanitary Certificate for re-export: Requesting and obtaining a Phytosanitary Certificate for the re-export of seeds to another country.
   
   Phytosanitary certification is conducted in two scenarios:
   
   
   • Equivalent or Less Strict Import Requirements: If the import conditions of the destination country are equal to or less stringent than those specified by Thailand, PQ officials may not need to undertake an additional inspection.
   • More Strict Import Requirements: If the Import conditions of the destination country are more stringent than Thailand, PQ officials will inspect/test for additional pests according to import conditions of destination country.

   If these conditions are met, a phytosanitary certificate will be issued.

The procedure for inspection and testing for the export of seeds is outlined in Figure 2:

Phytosanitary certification is conducted based on the import requirements of the destination country. This process is now streamlined through an electronic Phytosanitary (e-Phyto) system, which digitizes the steps involved. The process involves:

1. Document Verification: PQ staff will check and verify the accompanying documentation.
   Table 2. Key documents for export

   No.	Document
   1	Application for Phytosanitary Certificate
   2	Customs export entry form or import entry form
   3	Commercial invoice
   4	Packing list
   5	Bill of lading/airway bill

2. Sampling: PQ staff will collect samples according to ISTA rules.
3. Quarantine Pest Inspection: The samples are segregated for laboratory testing to identify quarantine pests.
4. Report Submission and Certification: The test results are submitted to the PQ station/Export Plant Quarantine Service Group, OAR for review. If the seeds meet all the required standards, a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) is issued.

The following private laboratories are accredited by DOA to perform seed health testing for phytosanitary certification of seeds following the ISPM 45 Requirements for national plant protection organizations if authorizing entities to perform phytosanitary actions.

1. Monsanto Thailand Co., Ltd.
2. East-West Seeds Thailand Co., Ltd.
3. Seed Test Lab Asia Co., Ltd.
4. Chia Tai Co., Ltd.

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) launched the e-Phyto system in February 2022 to streamline the export process for 22 key commodities to China. Officially introduced in May 2022, the system enhances efficiency and transparency, ensuring a timely and secure trade in agricultural commodities.

Thailand and Indonesia have successfully implemented end-to-end testing of e-Phyto certificate exchanges. The Live Operation of phytosanitary certificate exchanges began on October 3, 2022, with electronic data transmitted from the Thailand National Single Window (NSW) to the destination country’s NPPO system. For ASEAN countries this exchange is facilitated via the ASEAN Single Window Gateway (ASW Gateway). In contrast, for non-ASEAN countries, the exchange occurs directly between Thailand's NSW and the IPPC e-Phyto hub. Thailand has completed testing for e-Phyto exchange with Argentina, South Korea, Chile, Fiji, and Morocco. It is currently undergoing testing with Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and France.

Thailand envisions expanding the e-Phyto system to a broader range of countries and commodities with the goal of further streamlining trade-related processes.