Green & illegal: smuggling plants into Singapore

More people caught trying to sneak plants, soil past Customs
Jessica Lim Straits Times 9 Dec 11;

EXOTIC plants are being smuggled into the country by growing numbers of Singaporeans - some of whom may not even realise they are breaking the law.

Bargain hunters often buy flowers or shrubs abroad, then bring them home along with fertiliser and bags of potting material such as soil.

There were 639 cases of these items being brought in illegally between January and October, up from 597 in the same period last year.

This year's haul amounted to 1,267 plants and 3,733kg of organic fertiliser and potting medium - which can also include peat moss and coconut husks - said the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

The figure is expected to be even higher by the end of the year, as more Singaporeans travel during the school holiday and Christmas season, and as more consumers look for plants to beautify their homes.

Citrus, rose, ixora, canna and murraya are among the types most commonly brought in - mostly from West Malaysia and countries like Thailand and China.

Most are brought across the border in car boots, while some are stowed in jet passengers' luggage, The Straits Times understands.

Those who do so are usually drawn to the lower prices, and the availability of more exotic species overseas, said horticulturists.

Plants, potting medium and fertiliser are at least 30 per cent cheaper in Malaysia and Thailand.

The difference was greater over the past year due to the stronger Singapore dollar, plus increasing rent, labour and transport costs in Singapore, said Hua Hng Trading's project sales manager Adrian Tng.

At the wholesale nursery in Yishun, a 50kg bag of fertiliser goes for $100, up from $80 last year. Its ixora plants are sold at $8 to $10 a pot, up from $6 to $8 last year. The price of potting medium has stayed constant.

'Of course, if people buy directly from Malaysia, it's cheaper,' said Mr Tng, adding that he has heard of travellers illegally bringing in the exotic Seven Sisters rose from Cameron Highlands. 'There are many kinds of plants that are not sold by nurseries here because they perish in the hot weather.'

Others blame ignorance. Mr Lee Meng Kwan, the assistant general manager of World Farm Nursery, said: 'They go to other countries and they compare prices of plants and fertiliser, so they grab a few items back. They probably don't know it's against the law.'

The 45-year-old said he has heard of people bringing in endangered orchids from countries such as Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

Anyone found illegally importing plants, potting medium and organic fertiliser can be fined up to $1,000. They will also have to pay an inspection fee.

A plant is imported illegally if permits from the AVA and plant health certification from the source country have not been obtained.

A spokesman for the authority said imported plants can be hosts to exotic pests that 'can damage or even wipe out the entire population of affected host plants'.

She said that those who wish to import plants for their personal use need to ask their supplier for help to get them certified and treated. Members of the public should also arrange to have the item inspected by the AVA.

Illegally imported plants are kept by the authority for 10 days to allow consumers to get their documentation in order. If they cannot do so, the plants are destroyed.

About 40 per cent of those seized this year have been claimed by their owners.

The AVA also monitors horticulture farms closely and conducts regular inspections to avoid outbreaks of pests.

Traveller Helen Tan, 51, said she will stick to artificial plants from now on. The real estate agent goes to Malaysia every two months to shop, and once accidentally smuggled an 'exotic-leaved' plant across the border.

'I plucked it from the side of the road because it had such a unique leaf shape,' she said.

'I put it in a plastic bag and put it in my car. I wasn't stopped and totally forgot that it could have been illegal.'

NUMBERS UP

More cases

There were 639 between January and October, up from 597 in the same period last year.

Thousands of plants

This involved 1,267 plants and 3,733kg of potting medium

Hot species

Popular plants were citrus, rose, ixora, canna and murraya - mostly from West Malaysia, Thailand and China.

Costly penalty

Anyone found illegally importing plants, potting medium and organic fertiliser can be fined up to $1,000.