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. |
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| 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. |
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(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. |
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| (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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| (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.”. |
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