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Only U.S. residents may apply for an import permit. Most seeds for planting require a PPQ 587–Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products. Some seeds are prohibited or restricted and may enter the United States only under a special permit and after meeting additional requirements.

Finally, receiving or sending plant and plant products in any form into Trinidad and Tobago by mail or courier also requires a plant import permit and phytosanitary certificate.

On February 5 1912, the First Quarantine Act (2145) entitled “An Act to Prevent the Introduction in the Philippine Islands of Plant Diseases and Epidemic” was enacted by the Second Philippine Legislature. However, the law was not implemented until the later part of 1915 due to lack of qualified personnel.

As such, the trading community is asked to note that: (i) Import Permit Applications will be processed via the Ministry of Trade and Industry's TTBizLink Platform (.ttbizlink.gov.tt ); and (ii) Digitally Stamped and Signed Approved Plant Import Permits will be e-mailed to the applicants directly.

We develop crop farming technologies and ensure production of quality seeds and planting materials. Provide technical advice and relevant services to its stakeholders on crop culture and management.

The PQS unit continues to remain available to the trading community and can be contacted via any of the following avenues: telephone at 642-0718, 397-4495 or 280-7938; and email at plantquarantine.centeno@gov.tt.

The issuance of a Plant Import Permit is critical because it gives legal authorization to bring/import plant material from other countries into Trinidad and Tobago.

Before buying seeds or other planting material online, make sure you know where that material is coming from and any import requirements for that country. Imported seeds require a permit from the EU or a phytosanitary certificate issued by the country of origin.