Control of Plants (Plant Importation) (Amendment) Rules 2005

No. S 258

Control of Plants Act

(Chapter 57A)

Control of Plants (Plant Importation) (Amendment) Rules 2005

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 49 of the Control of Plants Act, the Minister for National Development hereby makes the following Rules:

Citation and commencement

1. These Rules may be cited as the Control of Plants (Plant Importation) (Amendment) Rules 2005 and shall come into operation on 25th April 2005.

Amendment of rule 2

2. Rule 2 of the Control of Plants (Plant Importation) Rules (R 4) (referred to in these Rules as the principal Rules) is amended —

(a)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “American tropics” in paragraph (1), the following definition:

“ “biological control agent” means a natural enemy, an antagonist or a competitor of a pest, or any other self-replicating biotic entity, used for pest control;”;

(b)

by deleting the definitions of “consignment of plants or plant products” and “soil” in paragraph (1) and substituting the following definitions:

“ “import health requirement” means any import health requirement specified or varied by the Director-General under rule 7;

“living modified organism” means any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of any modern biotechnology technique —

(a)	that overcomes natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers; and
(b)	that is not a technique used in traditional breeding and selection;

“non-quarantine pest” means a pest specified in Part II of the First Schedule;

“quarantine pest” means a pest specified in Part I of the First Schedule;

“regulated pest” means a pest specified in Part I or II of the First Schedule;”; and

(c)

by deleting paragraph (2) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(2) In these Rules —

(a)	any reference to a consignment of plants, plant products or materials shall include a reference to any container, receptacle, packaging material or other article forming part of such a consignment;
(b)	any reference to a regulated plant, regulated plant product or regulated material shall be construed as a reference to a plant, plant product or material, respectively, specified in the Second Schedule;
(c)	any reference to the importation or movement of any pest, plant, plant product or material shall be read as including a reference to the importation or movement, respectively, of the pest, plant, plant product or material by post; and
(d)	any reference to a certificate or document shall include a reference to a certificate or document in electronic form.”.

Deletion and substitution of rules 3 to 7

3. Rules 3 to 7 of the principal Rules are deleted and the following rules substituted therefor:

“Persons to whom Rules do not apply

3. Subject to rules 12, 13 and 14, these Rules shall not apply to any person who —

(a)

with the written permission of the Director-General and subject to such conditions as the Director-General thinks fit to impose, imports any plant, plant product or regulated material for experimental or research purposes; or

(b)

brings any regulated plant, regulated plant product or regulated material into Singapore in transit, subject to the condition that the plant, plant product or material is not moved from the point of entry into Singapore to any other place within Singapore except —

(i)	with the permission in writing of the Director-General or an authorised officer; and
(ii)	in accordance with such terms and conditions as the Director-General or the authorised officer thinks fit to impose.

Imported plant, plant product or material to be free of quarantine pests

4. Any person who imports any plant, plant product or material shall ensure that the plant, plant product or material and the container or any other package thereof is free of any quarantine pest.

Importation of regulated plant, regulated plant product or regulated material

5.—(1) No person shall import any regulated plant, regulated plant product or regulated material except under a permit issued by the Director-General.

(2) The Director-General shall, in determining whether to issue a permit under paragraph (1), consider whether the applicant for the permit has complied with every relevant import health requirement and the requirements under paragraph (4).

(3) Every permit issued under this rule —

(a)	shall be valid only for the period specified therein and for the consignment in respect of which it has been issued; and
(b)	may be subject to such terms and conditions as the Director-General thinks fit to impose, which terms and conditions shall be endorsed on the permit.

(4) Any person who imports any consignment of regulated plants, regulated plant products or regulated materials shall ensure that there is, in respect of that consignment —

(a)	a phytosanitary certificate; or
(b)	such other certificate or document or mark issued by or authorised to be issued by a competent government agency in the country of despatch, being an agency which is recognised by the Director-General, in such form and issued in such manner as may be required under any import health requirement.

(5) The phytosanitary certificate referred to in paragraph (4)(a) shall be issued not more than 14 days prior to the date of shipment of the consignment by a competent government agency or some other agricultural authority, of the country of despatch, being an agency or authority which is recognised by the Director-General.

(6) The phytosanitary certificate or other certificate or document or mark required under paragraph (4) shall certify that every relevant import health requirement has been complied with.

Discretion of Director-General to prohibit plant, plant product or material from entering Singapore

6.—(1) Where —

(a)

a consignment of regulated plants, regulated plant products or regulated materials is imported —

(i)	without a phytosanitary certificate or other certificate or document or mark referred to in rule 5(4); or
(ii)	with a phytosanitary certificate or other certificate or document or mark referred to in rule 5(4) that does not comply with rule 5(5) or (6);

(b)

an imported consignment of plants, plant products or materials is found to be infested with a non-quarantine pest; or

(c)

an imported consignment of plants, plant products or materials is found to be infested with a pest (other than a regulated pest) which is not native to Singapore and which the Director-General determines to be potentially damaging to any plant in Singapore or the ecosystem of any plant in Singapore,

the Director-General may, in his discretion —

(i)	prohibit the consignment of plants, plant products or materials from entering Singapore; or
(ii)	permit the consignment of plants, plant products or materials to enter Singapore, subject to such terms and conditions as the Director-General thinks fit.

(2) In this rule, a reference to an imported consignment includes a reference to any consignment brought into Singapore by an incoming traveller for his own use.

Import health requirements

7.—(1) For the purposes of these Rules, the Director-General may specify such import health requirements as are necessary in respect of any regulated plant, regulated plant product or regulated material.

(2) The Director-General may, from time to time, vary any of the import health requirements —

(a)	having regard to the status of any regulated pest, regulated plant, regulated plant product or regulated material; and
(b)	in accordance with the provisions of any international agreement or memorandum of understanding pertaining to the international movement of quarantine pests, regulated plants, regulated plant products or regulated materials.

(3) The Director-General shall maintain a register of all the import health requirements for the time being specified under paragraph (1) and any variation to any such requirement under paragraph (2).

(4) The register referred to in paragraph (3) shall be made available for public information.

(5) In determining whether it is necessary to specify any import health requirement under paragraph (1), the Director-General shall have regard to the following matters:

(a)	the likelihood that the importation of any plant, plant product or other material may bring any regulated pest into Singapore;
(b)	the nature and possibility of the effect of any pest on any local plant or plant product, or the environment in or economy of Singapore;
(c)	any obligation imposed under any treaty, convention, arrangement, memorandum of understanding, exchange of letters or other similar instrument relating to the import of plants to which Singapore is a party; and
(d)	such other matter as the Director-General thinks relevant.”.

Amendment of rule 8

4. Rule 8 of the principal Rules is amended —

(a)	by deleting the words “rule 4 or 7” and substituting the words “rule 5”; and
(b)	by deleting the words “Fifth Schedule” and substituting the words “Third Schedule”.

Amendment of rule 9

5. Rule 9 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “rule 4 or 7” and substituting the words “rule 5”.

Deletion of rules 10 and 11

6. Rules 10 and 11 of the principal Rules are deleted.

Amendment of rule 12

7. Rule 12 (1) of the principal Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting the words “or any of the other materials specified in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules” in sub-paragraphs (a) and (c) and substituting in each case the words “or any regulated material”;

(b)

by deleting the words “plants, plant products or any of the other materials specified in the First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules” in sub-paragraph (d) and substituting the words “regulated pests or pests referred to in rule 6 (1)(c), regulated plants, regulated plant products or regulated materials”;

(c)

by deleting the words “any pests” in sub-paragraph (f) and substituting the words “any regulated pest or pest referred to in rule 6 (1)(c)”;

(d)

by deleting sub-paragraph (g) and substituting the following sub-paragraph:

“(g)

direct the importer or owner of any consignment of plants, plant products or materials to destroy the consignment, at his own expense, in such manner as may be determined by the Director-General or immediately export the consignment, where the consignment is found —

(i)	to be infested with any regulated pest or pest referred to in rule 6 (1)(c), and such pest cannot be effectively controlled through disinfection or disinfestation measures; or
(ii)	to have been imported in contravention of these Rules;”;

(e)

by deleting the words “plants or plant products” in sub-paragraph (h) and substituting the words “plants, plant products or materials”; and

(f)

by deleting sub-paragraph (i) and substituting the following sub-paragraph:

“(i)	seize any pest, plant, plant product or regulated material which has been imported or which is being kept in contravention of these Rules or any import health requirement; and”.

Amendment of rule 14

8. Rule 14 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “any of the pests referred to in the First Schedule” and substituting the words “any quarantine pest”.

Amendment of rule 15

9. Rule 15 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “Fifth Schedule” and substituting the words “Third Schedule”.

Amendment of rule 17

10. Rule 17 of the principal Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting paragraph (a) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(a)	rule 4 or 5 (1);”;

(b)

by deleting the word “Director” in paragraph (c) and substituting the word “Director-General”; and

(c)

by renumbering the rule as paragraph (1) of that rule, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following paragraph:

“(2) Any person who imports any consignment of regulated plants, regulated plant products or regulated materials —

(a)	without a phytosanitary certificate or other certificate or document or mark referred to in rule 5 (4); or
(b)	with a phytosanitary certificate or other certificate or document or mark referred to in rule 5 (4) that does not comply with rule 5 (5) and (6),

shall be guilty of an offence.”.

Deletion of First to Fourth Schedules and new First and Second Schedules

11. The First to Fourth Schedules to the principal Rules are deleted and the following Schedules substituted therefor:

“FIRST SCHEDULE

Rule 2(1)

Regulated Pests

Part I

Quarantine Pests

Name of Pest

Common Name

BACTERIA

Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens

Bean wilt

Clavibacter michiganensis sub. sp. nebraskense

Leaf freckles and wilt

Clavibacter michiganensis sub. sp. sepedonicum

Bacteria ring rot

Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae

Coffee halo blight, Twig blight

Pseudomonas syringae

Leaf spot/blight

Xanthomonas ampelina

Bacterial blight (grapes)

Xanthomonas campestris pv. cassavae

Cassava bacterial necrosis

Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli

Common bacterial blight

FUNGI

Aecidium cantensis

Deforming rust

Angiosorus solani (Thecophora solani)

Potato smut

Ascochyta gossypii (A. phaseolorum)

Ascochyta blight

Cercospora elaeidis

Freckle

Claviceps gigantean

Ergot, Horse’s tooth

Cochliobolus carbonum (Drechslera zeicola)

Charred ear mould

Colletotrichum coffeanum

Coffee berry disease

Crinipellis perniciosa (Marasmius perniciosus)

Witches broom

Cryptosporella eugeniae

Dieback

Deuterophoma tracheiphila (Phoma tracheiphila)

Mal secco

Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora

Stem canker

Erysiphe polygoni

Powdery mildew

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. elaeidis

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium xylarioides (Gibberella xylarioides)

Tracheomycosis

Hemileia coffeicola

Rust (Powdery, grey rust)

Marasmiellus cocophilus

Lethal bole rot

Microcyclus ulei

South American Leaf Blight

Moniliophthora roreri (Monilia roreri)

Pod rot, watery pod rot

Mycena citricolor (Omphalia flavida)

American leaf spot

Mycosphaerella fijiensis var. difformis

Black sigatoka

Peronospora tabacina

Blue mould

Phaeolus manihotis

Root rot

Phoma exigua var fourata (P. exigua var. exigua)

Gangrene

Phomopsis theae

Stem canker

Phymatotrichopsis omnivorum

Texas root rot

Polyscytalium pustulans (Oospora pustulans)

Skin spot

Puccinia pittieriana

Common rust

Puccinia psidii

Guava rust

Sphaceloma arachidis

Scab

Sphaceloma manihoticola

Super elongation

Synchytrium endobioticum

Black wart, black scab

Trachysphaera fructigena

Trachysphaera pod rot

Verticillium albo-atrum

Verticillium wilt

Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium wilt

INSECTS

Acanthosellides obtectus

Bean bruchid

Anastrepha oblique

West Indian fruit fly

Anastrepha fraterculus

South American fruit fly

Anastrepha ludens

Mexican fruit fly

Anastrepha spp.

Fruit fly

Antestiopsis spp.

Antestia bug

Anthomomus vestitus

Peruvian cotton boll weevil

Anthomomus grandis

Mexican cotton boll weevil

Aonidomytilus albus

Cassava scale

Bactrocera tryoni

Queensland fruit fly

Bathycoella thalassina

Cocoa bug

Bruchus pisorum

Pea pod weevil

Caliothrips masculinus

Thrips

Ceratitis rosa

Natal fruit fly

Ceratitis capitata

Mediterranean fruit fly

Chaetanaphotrips orchidii

Banana rust thrip

Chrysomphalus aonidium

Florida red scale

Coelaenomenodera elaedis

Leaf miner

Diatrea abbreviatus

Sugarcane root stalk borer

Distantiella theobroma

Cocoa capsid

Epilachna varivestis

Mexican bean beetle

Euscepes postfaciatus

West Indian sweet potato weevil

Helopeltis bergrothi

Helopeltis bug

Hercinothrip bicinctus

Banana thrip

Hypsipyla robusta

Stem borer

Rynchophorus phoenicis

African palm weevil

Leguminivora glycinivorella

Soybean pod borer

Leptinotarsa decemilineata

Colorado potato beetle

Leptopharsa heveae

Lace bug

Leptopharsa gibbicarina

Lace bug

Leucoptera coffeella

Coffee leaf miner

Lissorhoptrus oryzephilus

Rice water weevil

Melittomma insulare

Wood borer

Menalonium sp

Mirid bug

Noorda albizonalis

Red banded caterpillar

Oryctes boas (= O. monoceros)

Rhinoceros beetle

Pachymerus lacerdae

Kernel borer

Pachymerus nucleorum

Kernel borer

Pimelephila ghesquierii

Palm moth

Planococcus kenyae

Kenya mealy bug

Prostephanus truncatus

Large grain borer

Pseudotheraptus wayi

Coreid bug

Quadraspidiotus perniciosus

San Jose scale

Rhynchophorus palmarum

South American palm weevil

Sacadodes pyralis

False pink boll worm

Sahlbergella singularis

Cocoa capsid

Sesamia cretica

Durra/sorghum stalk borer

Sophronica ventrallis

Berry borer

Stenoma decora

Cocoa shoot

Trogoderma granarium

Khapra beetle

Xyleborus ferrugineus

Black twig borer

MITES

Aceria guerreronis (= Eryophyes guerreronis)

Coconut mite

Mononychellus tanajoa (= Ononychelie tanajoe)

Cassava green mite

Oligonychus peruvianus (= Homonychus peruvianus)

Cassava mite

PHYTOPLASMAS

Phytoplasmas of apple

Flat limb

Phytoplasmas of banana

Cameroon marbling disease

Phytoplasmas of cassava

Witches broom

Phytoplasmas of coconut

Lethal yellowing
Coconut Awka diseases

Phytoplasmas of grape

Grapevine Flavescence doree

Phytoplasmas of grape

Pierce’s disease = Xylella fastidiosa

Phytoplasmas of oil palm

Leaf mottle

Phytoplasmas of papaya

Papaya bunchy top

Phytomonas staheli

Sudden wither

Phytomonas sp

Maize leaf blight/Leaf scald

Spiroplasma citri

Stubborn disease

Spiroplasma kunkelii

Corn stunt, Grassy root

NEMATODES

Anguina agrostis

Bentgrass nematode

Anguina graminis

Leaf gall nematode

Anguina tritici

Wheat or seed gall nematode

Aphasmatylenchus straturatus

Lance nematode of pea

Aphelenchoides arachidis

Testa nematode

Aphelenchoides blastophorus

Stem and bulb nematode

Aphelenchoides fragariae

Strawberry, bud or foliar nematode

Aphelenchoides lilium

Bud nematode

Bursaphelenchus lignicolus

Pinewood nematode

Ditylenchus destructor

Potato rot nematode

Ditylenchus myceliophagus

Mushroom spawn nematode

Globodera pallida

Potato cyst nematode

Globodera rostochiensis

Golden nematode, potato cyst nematode

Hemicycliophora arenaria

Sheath nematode

Heterodera avenae

Cereal cyst nematode

Heterodera cacti

Cactus cyst nematode

Heterodera cajani

Pigeon pea cyst nematode

Heterodera carrotae

Carrot cyst nematode

Heterodera cruciferae

Brassica root nematode

Heterodera cyperi

Nutgrass/Sedge cyst nematode

Heterodera fici

Fig cyst nematode

Heterodera geottingiana

Pea cyst nematode

Heterodera longicaudata

Wheat cyst nematode

Heterodera oryzicola

Rice cyst nematode

Heterodera sacchari

Sugarcane cyst nematode

Heterodera schactii

Sugar beet cyst

Heterodera sorghi

Sorghum cyst nematode

Heterodera vignae

Pea cyst nematode

Heterodera zeae

Corn cyst nematode

Hirschmanniella miticausa

Taro nematode

Hirschmanniella spinicaudata

Rice root tip nematode

Hoplolaimus columbus

Columbia nematode

Hoplolaimus indicus

Lance nematode

Hoplolaimus pararobustus

Lance nematode

Longidorus attenuatus

Needle nematode

Macroposthonia xenoplex

Ring nematode

Meloidogyne africana

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne baurensis

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne brevicauda

Tea root knot nematode

Meloidogyne chitwoodi

Columbia root knot nematode

Meloidogyne coffeicola

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne decalineata

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne exigua

Coffee root knot nematode

Meloidogyne graminis

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne indica

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne inornata

Brazilian root knot nematode

Meloidogyne mali

Apple root knot nematode

Meloidogyne megadora

Root knot nematode

Meloidogyne naasi

Cereal root knot nematode

Meloidogyne oteifae

Root knot nematode

Merlinius brevidens

Stunt nematode

Nacobbus aberrans

False root knot

Pratylenchus fallax

Lesion nematode

Pratylenchus neglectus

California root — Lesion nematode

Pratylenchus thornei

Thorne’s root — Lesion nematode

Pratylenchus zeae

Corn root — Lesion nematode

Punctodera punctata

Grass cyst nematode

Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus (=Bursaphelenchus cocophilus)

Red ring nematode

Scutellonema bradys

Yam nematode

Trichodorus viruliferus

Stubby root nematode

Xiphinema index

Dagger nematode

VIRUSES

African cassava mosaic virus

Anthocyanosis of cotton

Arabis mosaic virus

Artichoke Italian latent virus

Blister spot virus of coffee

Brown streak virus of papaya

Grapevine corky bark associated virus

Rice dwarf virus

Dwarf virus of sugarcane

Sweet potato yellow dwarf virus

Grapevine fanleaf virus

Rice hoja blanca virus

Grapevine chrome mosaic virus

Sweet potato feathery mottle virus

Cotton leaf crumple virus

Cotton leaf curl virus

Leaf mosaic virus of cotton

Leaf mottle virus of cotton

Grapevine leafroll-associated virus

Leaf virus of grape

Marginal chlorosis virus of groundnut

Mosaic virus of maize

Papaya mosaic virus

Mosaic virus of rubber

Mosaic virus of sweet potato

Peanut stunt virus of maize

Phloem necrosis virus of tea

Peach rosette mosaic virus of grape

Rayado fino virus of tea

Cacao swollen shoot virus

Rice transitory yellowing virus

Rice yellow mottle virus

Ringspot virus of soybean

Rupestris stem pitting-associated virus

Stenosis, small leaf of cotton

Stunt virus of maize

Maize streak virus

Waialua disease of papaya

Wrinkled stunt and witches broom virus of rice

Tomato spotted wilt virus

Yellow vein banding virus of cocoa

DISEASE OF UNKNOWN ETIOLOGY

Coconut awka

Coconut bristle tip

Coconut wilt

Cassava frog’s skin

Coconut head droop

Coconut kerala wilt

Coconut leaf mottle

Coconut leaf scorch

Coconut little leaf

Coconut thatipaka wilt

Mango malformation

Cotton Terminal Stunt Graft Transmissible Pathogen

WEEDS

Rottboellia spp.

Itchgrass

Striga spp.

Witchweed

Part II

Non-quarantine Pests

Name of Pest

Common Name

FUNGI

Cochliobolus eragrotidis.

Leaf spot

Coleosporium plumeri

Rust

Cylindrocladium spathiphylli.

Root rot

Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium wilt

Ganoderma boninense

Basal stem rot

Marasmius inoderma

Root rot

Rhizoctonia solani (= Thanatephorus cucumeris)

Stem & Collar rot, seedling root rot, damping off

Sclerotium rolfsii

Southern blight/wilt, crown and root rot, stem cankers

Ustulina zonata

Charcoal stump rot

INSECTS

Bemisia tabaci

White fly

Brontispa longissima

Hispid beetle

Contarinia maculipennis

Blossom midge

Maconellicoccus hirsutus

Hibiscus mealy bug

Neolithocolletis pentadesma

Leaf miner

Oryctes rhinoceros

Rhinoceros beetle

Plesispa reichei

Coconut leaf beetle

Quadrastichus spp.

Gall wasps

Rhesala spp.

Raintree webworm

Thrips palmi

Melon thrip

NEMATODES

Discocriconemella spp.

Ring nematode

Hemicycliophora spp.

Sheath nematode

Meloidogyne arenaria

Peanut root knot nematode

Meloidogyne graminicola

Rice root knot nematode

Meloidogyne hapla

Northern root knot nematode

Pratylenchus brachyurus

Lesion nematode

Pratylenchus penetrans

Lesion nematode

Pratylenchus pratensis

Lesion nematode

WEEDS

Cuscuta spp.

Dodders

SECOND SCHEDULE

Rules 2(2) and 5

Importation under Permit

Name of Plants, Plant Products and Other Materials

1. Plants of rubber (Hevea spp.)

2. Plants of cocoa (Theobroma cacao)

3. Plants of coconut (Cocos nucifera)

4. Plants of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis)

5. Plants of cassava (Manihot esculenta)

6. Plants of citrus (Citrus spp.)

7. Plants of coffee (Coffea spp.)

8. Plants of cotton (Gossypium spp.)

9. Plants of maize (Zea mays)

10. Plants of banana (Musa spp.)

11. Plants of pineapple (Ananas comosus)

12. Plants of rice (Oryza sativa)

13. Plants of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

14. Plants of tea (Camellia sinensis)

15. Plants of orchid (Orchidaceae)

16. All other living plants or propagating materials such as branches, bulbs, corms, foliages, rhizomes, seeds or tubers, with or without potting media

17. All living plants that have acquired novel genetic materials by techniques of modern technology

18. Fresh or dried herbarium specimens

19. Mushroom spawn

20. All fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables originated from American Tropics

21. All living Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Nematoda and micro-organisms

22. All living modified organisms

23. All biological control agents

24. Soil and organic fertilizers.”.

Amendment of Fifth Schedule

12. The Fifth Schedule to the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “FIFTH SCHEDULE” in the 1st line and substituting the words “THIRD SCHEDULE”.

Miscellaneous amendments

13. The principal Rules are amended —

(a)

by deleting the word “Director” wherever it appears in the following provisions and substituting in each case the word “Director-General”:

Rules 8, 12(1)(e), (f) and (h), 13(2), 14 and 19; and

(b)

by deleting the words “plants or plant products” in the following provisions and substituting in each case the words “plants, plant products or materials”:

Rules 13(1) and (2) and rule heading and 14.

[G.N. Nos. S 91/2000; S 152/2004]

Made this 18th day of April 2005.

TAN TEE HOW

Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of National Development,
Singapore.

[ND202/1-55 Vol. 15; AG/LEG/SL/57A/2003/1 Vol. 3]

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