Channel NewsAsia 30 Nov 07;
SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has announced tighter regulations concerning plant import from West Malaysia.
Starting from 1 December, travellers returning from West Malaysia are only allowed to bring in up to three plants without potting medium – such as soil, sphagnum moss, peat moss and potting mix – or 250 gm of seeds or both, without an import permit from AVA and a plant health certificate.
This is because potting medium, if not properly treated, could contain microscopic worms which can cause poor growth or death of plants.
The AVA said these worms can multiply quickly and spread to other healthy plants and will thus be detrimental to the plant health status of Singapore.
Presently, travellers returning from West Malaysia are allowed to bring in up to three plants with or without potting medium.
However, for travellers intending to bring in plants with potting medium from West Malaysia, they must now obtain an import permit from AVA and a plant health certificate from Malaysia.
Violation of the above regulations will result in confiscation and destruction of the plants and seeds.
More information is available online at the AVA website http://www.ava.gov.sg/
