Vietnam Sanitary and Phytosanitary Notification Authority and Enquiry Point

The notification entitled "Draft Notification of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Re: Specification of plants from certain sources as prohibited articles, of exceptions and conditions under the Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 (No. ..) B.E. …. (….)" has been previously notified by the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives in G/SPS/N/THA/614 dated 25 January 2023.

To prevent the introduction of quarantine pests to Thailand, the Department of Agriculture proposes the draft Notification of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives stipulates that fresh fruits in the genus Vaccinium imported from all countries are considered prohibited articles. According to Article 8 of the Plant Quarantine Act B.E. 2507 (1964) and amended, the importation of prohibited articles must be permitted, accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, subjected to pest risk analysis, and comply with the criteria, procedures, and conditions stipulated by the Director-General of Department of Agriculture under the recommendation of the Committee and published in the Government Gazette. It means that all fresh fruits in the genus Vaccinium from all countries are not permitted to import into Thailand after the above-mentioned Notification enters into force.

To prevent trade disruption, countries intended to export fresh fruits in the genus Vaccinium to Thailand are suggested to make an official market access request to the Department of Agriculture and provide necessary information for pest risk analysis specified in the Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Specifications, methods, and conditions of pest risk analysis for the importation of prohibited articles dated 11 July B.E. 2550 (2007) (G/SPS/N/THA/158/Add.1) within 60 days from the date of circulation of the addendum to the notification. Subsequently, the pest risk analysis will be initiated. The phytosanitary import requirements will be established based on the results of pest risk analysis. The permission to import fresh fruits in the genus Vaccinium is also required an onsite audit of export certification procedures. The costs of the onsite audit are specified in the abovementioned Notification of the Department of Agriculture and must be borne by the exporting countries.

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/THA/23_09845_00_e.pdf

https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/SPS/THA/23_09845_00_x.pdf

This addendum concerns a: Modification of content and/or scope of previously notified draft regulation