National Parks Board (Plant Health)

1) The National Parks Board (NParks), Horticulture and Community Gardening Division, Plant Science and Health Branch, Plant Health Section (PHU) regulates the importation of plants and plant materials.

2) Plants and plant materials include live plants, cuttings, foliage, cut flowers, vegetable seeds, organic (plant-based) fertilisers, potting media (e.g., soil, peat moss, sphagnum moss, coco husk etc.)

Endangered plants and live insects of agricultural importance are species defined under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Importers are required to provide all relevant information to NParks for approval before the importation of plant-based organic fertilisers, live insects and microorganisms are carried out.

3) Please follow the following procedures before importing plants or regulated materials:

• Find out the import health requirements for the plants or plant products that you wish to import. The requirements are in accordance with the Control of Plants (Plant Importation) (Amendment) Rules 2005 and the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1989.
• Ensure that all imported plants and plant materials must be free from pests that are listed under the First Schedule of the Rules.
• Obtain an Import Permit from NParks to import plants, plant products, and other regulated materials listed in the Second Schedule, a Phytosanitary Certificate and/or other certification as listed under the import health requirements from the country of origin of the imported plants and regulated materials.
• Complete post-entry inspections and/or treatment of the imported plants and regulated materials.
• The exemption of the phytosanitary certificate for plants and plant products imported by travellers from West Malaysia are subject to the following conditions:
  • Not more than three non-CITES plants without potting media per person.
  • A maximum of 250 grams of seeds per person.

4) A customs permit must be obtained through TradeNet before the goods arrive in Singapore. The NParks-issued import permit for the importation of plants into Singapore costs $11.00. The purchase can be made via TradeNet.

5) The details of the regulated pests, plants, plant products and other materials are listed in the respective Schedules of the Rules. You may email Plant Science and Health Branch (Plant Health Section) at nparks_public_affairs@nparks.gov.sg or call 6316 5153 for more information.

Refer to HS CA Product Code Search.