The Department of Agriculture, together with the Philippine Embassy in Thailand, has released a reminder for travelers from Thailand to the Philippines on bringing agricultural products for personal consumption.
In the said post, “bringing fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, and planting materials into the Philippines is regulated under national law and plant quarantine regulations to help ensure food safety and safeguard the agricultural sector against devastating pests and diseases.” It also mentioned that if these items are brought back to the country, an individual is only allowed to bring at maximum of 10 kilos.
The guideline also includes checking of the product and identifying if it is restricted or not allowed to be imported into the Philippines. The National Plant Quarantine Services Division’s website Import – NPQSD (bpi-npqsd.com.ph) should be able to help you identify such items.
The public is also required to check whether the products are restricted to be exported out by Thailand. Prohibited Plant for Export (airportthai.co.th)
And lastly, individuals should obtain phytosanitary documents online for products that are allowed for export by Thailand and import by the Philippines. You may access these clearances through the Bureau of Plant Industry’s Plant Quarantine Clearance (PQC) link .:: Intercommerce Network Services and through the Plant Control Group, Office of Agricultural Regulation’s Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) .
Once you arrive in the Philippines, such agricultural products must be declared and presented to the PQC and PC to the Customs and Plant Quarantine authorities stationed at the airport. If no certification or appropriate documents are presented, authorities may confiscate such items.
For more information, you may visit the website of the National Plant Quarantine Services Division of the Bureau of Plant Industry at https://npqsd.bpi-npqsd.com.ph/import/ or email at npqsd.bpi@buplant.da.gov.ph.