Bangkok, Thailand
August 22, 2008
USDA/FAS GAIN report TH 8129
Report Highlights:
On August 21, trade sources
informed FAS/Bangkok that the Thai Plant Quarantine Group
under the Department of Agriculture will now require
phytosanitary certificates on August 28, 2008, for all
commodities currently receiving a waiver to Thailand’s new
Plant Quarantine Act (No. 3) B.E. 2551. Despite the sudden
announcement to require phytosanitary certificates, USDA
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) official felt
the action should not adversely affect shipments of the
aforementioned commodities to Thailand.
On August 21, trade sources
informed FAS/Bangkok that the Thai Plant Quarantine group under
the Department of Agriculture (DOA) will now require
phytosanitary certificates on August 28, 2008, for all
commodities currently receiving a waiver to Thailand’s new Plant
Quarantine Act (No. 3) B.E. 2551. FAS/Bangkok confirmed this
report in a call to Suraporn Yinasawapun, Chief of Plant
Quarantine Research, Plant Quarantine Group under the DOA.
Current waiver commodities which are classified as
non-prohibited articles, and do not currently require an import
permit or a phytosanitary certificate include apple, apricot,
cherry, currant, fig, grape, nectarine, peach, pear, plum,
prune, strawberry, sorghum grain, sorghum seed, sweet pepper,
and eggplant.
According to Suraporn, this decision was made last Friday after
some internal debate within the Plant Quarantine Group over the
interpretation of Section 11 of the new Plant Quarantine Act
which states, “Any person importing or bringing in transit
unprohibited articles shall attach with a phytosanitary
certificate and shall declare to the plant quarantine official
in a format form specified by the Director-General.” Suraporn
stated that the Director of Agricultural Regulation, Dr. Wichar
Thitiprasert, felt this language should apply to waiver
commodities.
At this time, the Thai’s do not have a proposed solution for
product on the water. Suraporn stated the Plant Quarantine Group
is in the process of determining how to handle product without a
phytosanitary certificate shipped prior to August 28.
FAS/Bangkok will continue to follow-up with the Plant Quarantine
Group to ensure trade remains uninterrupted.
Despite the sudden announcement to require phytosanitary
certificates, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) officials in Manila, Philippines, felt the action should
not adversely affect shipments of the aforementioned commodities
to Thailand. |
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