Bringing Fresh Herbs Into Thailand

[ade100]

Does anyone know if I can bring fresh growing herbs into Thailand, from Singapore in my luggage? They will be little pots of Mint, Rosemary, Italian Basil, etc.

I have spent hours Googling this and cannot find the answer. I read a similar thread a few weeks ago about taking herbs from Thailand into Oz. The consensus seemed to be “don’t do it” but I have a feeling Thailand is not so strict.

Sorry this is not the most riveting of discussion topics but I just can’t find the answer elsewhere.

[maxjay]

I'm not sure of the legality of it. In my 18 years of arrivals, I've never had my baggage checked.

I think the best way to do it would be to take the plants out of the pots. Wrap the roots in a wet/moist paper towel or towelette and then put the whole plant in a plastic bag.

But, wouldn't it be easier just to bring the seeds with you or buy them here? I know there is fresh mint here at most markets, not sure about Italian basil or rosemary.

[gunnyd]

Does anyone know if I can bring fresh growing herbs into Thailand, from Singapore in my luggage? They will be little pots of Mint, Rosemary, Italian Basil, etc.

I have spent hours Googling this and cannot find the answer. I read a similar thread a few weeks ago about taking herbs from Thailand into Oz. The consensus seemed to be "don't do it" but I have a feeling Thailand is not so strict.

Sorry this is not the most riveting of discussion topics but I just can't find the answer elsewhere.

From the AoT website:

Plant Quarantine

Passengers bringing in or sending out plants or plant products should adhere to the relevant regulations. The Plant Quarantine Office at the airport is responsible for this matter.

More Information :

• Arrival 02 134 0716-7
  

Hope this helps.

GunnyD

Edited February 19, 2008 by gunnyd

[greenmember]

I can't answer your question, but hope I can shred a light.

My mother from Vietnam brought to Thailand a huge bag of fresh vegetables of 6 or 7 kinds, 5 or 10 boiled eggs with baby ducks inside, 2 kinds of plants and 2 tiny plants of each kind, and no one stopped her.

I brought in a fresh orchid from Vietnam about 30cm long, without pot, put it in a paper shopping bag and carried with me to the plane. No one asked anything.

These happened in 2005 and 2006.

[Scott]

Well, a friend of mine brought in a baggie with some 'herbs' in it and he got sent to prison! Seems the police didn't think he was going to use them in his spaghetti sauce.

[Jingjok]

Rooted plants in soil are almost certainly not allowed without an international phytosanitary certificate.

But that said, if you are flying in, and you use common sense – ie bring in clean plants in reasonably sterile soil which isn’t crawling with insects, I’d just do it.

Here are a few tips, gleaned from 20 years of travelling through Far Eastern airports. I really shouldn’t put this stuff on a public forum, but I’m in a reckless mood tonight.

1. Look like a tourist. But not a Japanese tourist.

2. Have only one or two cheap suitcases. Put anything embarrassing in such cases, never in hand luggage.

3. Do not carry anything oversize, any cardboard boxes, or any flight cases; these are often searched.

4. Mess about at the carousel until you see someone else carrying items as (3). Follow directly behind them. Customs will probably be distracted by the rich pickings they perceive might be in unusual packages.

5. Walk with confidence, but not too quickly.

6. If carrying anything HIGHLY embarrassing, you might like to deploy my special technique of smiling at and greeting the customs officer as you walk briskly by.

7. If called to stop, and you are feeling particularly arrogant/brave/?stupid you may affect deafness, and continue on your trajectory without hesitation. In my (single) experience of employing this technique, no one chased after me. Grinning was unavoidable: Eyes front at all times!

8. Do NOT attempt any of the above in the UK, USA or Australia!

If all else fails and your booty is discovered, you have two choices:

1. Act daft, say you had no idea it was not allowed and offer to dump the offending articles.

2. Laugh, and pay the necessary ‘import tax’. Baht 500 should do. This is either passed in the head honcho’s office, by putting it on his desk, or discreetly slipped into a drawer behind the search counter. Any tedious questions and bag searches will then cease immediately. If asked for an excessive amount, laugh, politely decline, and stick to your chosen figure. Indicate that a receipt will be required for any amount you believe excessive.

I consider most dealings with officialdom here a great game. A game which is often highly entertaining.

I was caught with cactuses from Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The Customs officer pricked his hands on the spines while rooting around in my case against my express wishes. I had warned him not to look in there. Serves him right!

[ade100]

Thanks everyone for your advice. It's just possible (although as this is a public forum I am not able to confirm anything) that I went with the majority vote and just brought them in in my suitcase.

[Jingjok]

...It's just possible (although as this is a public forum I am not able to confirm anything) that I went with the majority vote and just brought them in in my suitcase.

Please tell us if the rosemary plant that you did not bring in thrived or not.

I have a friend who allegedly imported a rosemary plant from his UK garden. It did not do well here in the heat.

Shame, because finding fresh rosemary here is difficult and expensive.

While we are on the subject, any rosemary afficionados could do worse that try Giovanni's Focaccia rosmarino at Kalim café, south of Patong on the Kamala road. Hugely delicious!

[ade100]

...It's just possible (although as this is a public forum I am not able to confirm anything) that I went with the majority vote and just brought them in in my suitcase.

Please tell us if the rosemary plant that you did not bring in thrived or not.

I have a friend who allegedly imported a rosemary plant from his UK garden. It did not do well here in the heat.

Shame, because finding fresh rosemary here is difficult and expensive.

While we are on the subject, any rosemary afficionados could do worse that try Giovanni's Focaccia rosmarino at Kalim café, south of Patong on the Kamala road. Hugely delicious!

The hypothetical rosemary plant (that may or may not have been brought into the country from Singapore) is doing fine. Rosemary thrives all over the Mediteranean in much higher temperatures than in Thailand. Not sure it will be used to the humidity though.

The hypothetical mint plant, however, is not looking so happy.

Italian Basil, I shall be growing from seed. I'll let you know

[camerata]

From the AoT website:

Plant Quarantine

Passengers bringing in or sending out plants or plant products should adhere to the relevant regulations. The Plant Quarantine Office at the airport is responsible for this matter.

More Information :

• Arrival 02 134 0716-7
  

Yes, and this sign is very visible on the baggage carousels. I tried to declare some seeds I was carrying and it was a big hassle. There was no one at the plant quarantine desk and I was told I would have to go and see someone from "the Ministry" and the seeds would likely be confiscated. After some sweet-talking and pleading I managed to get through the red channel but it was clear they thought I was insane for declaring a few seeds.