In 2022, Thailand’s government decriminalized cannabis and removed it from its list of category 5 narcotics. This made cannabis and hemp products legal for medical and culinary use. Cannabis plants can now be grown legally without the need for registration, but recreational use and smoking cannabis in public are still restricted.
Shortly after legalization, Thailand’s Department of Agriculture announced that importing cannabis and hemp seeds is also permitted. To reflect this, some elements of the importation process have been updated; anyone wishing to export cannabis or hemp seeds to Thailand must provide the correct documentation and permissions in line with the 1964 Plant Quarantine Act and the 1975 Plants Act, but they no longer need to treat seeds with fungicide.
Despite legalization and improvements to the process, importing cannabis seeds into Thailand can still be challenging. Particularly for those not familiar with the necessary procedures. Many shipments remain in customs because they didn’t meet the legal requirements or weren’t accompanied by the correct documentation.
Rules on Importing Cannabis Seeds to Thailand
To import cannabis seeds into Thailand there are several rules you must follow:
- All imported cannabis seeds must not be genetically modified – This should be supported with necessary declarations and documentation.
- Previously, cannabis and hemp seeds could only be brought into Thailand by air, but now the rules allow them to be imported by air, sea or land.
- Imported cannabis seeds must be free from organic or inorganic contaminants.
- Seeds must be accompanied by an up-to-date import permit – This must be held by the person or company importing the seeds. It should also be written in Thai and be accompanied by a translation in English.
- The exporter must send the seeds with all legal documentation including a phytosanitary certificate, an ISTA blue certificate and a certificate of origin.
What Documents Are Required/ How to Get Them
For the successful export of cannabis seeds to Thailand, a variety of different documents are required:
Letter of Registration
To successfully process the necessary documents such as phytosanitary certificates, you must be registered as a professional operator with your country’s National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO). Once you’ve successfully applied to the NPPO, they will issue you with a license or letter of registration. Without this, you won’t be able to apply for many of the other documents on this list. At CannaEx Trades, we hold all the licenses and memberships to export seeds to Thailand.
Learn more about Letters of Registration.
Import License
The individual or company receiving the cannabis seeds in Thailand must hold a digital import/export license issued by the Thai customs office. This license can be achieved by applying to the customs office along with the necessary details of your company, identity and the goods you intend to import. Once you have the license you will be registered on the customs database and permitted to import or export.
Phytosanitary Certificate
Phytosanitary certificates must be provided with all imports of cannabis or hemp seeds. This is a legal document that demonstrates that your seeds meet Thailand’s phytosanitary import standards. The certificate is issued by a public officer of the National Plant Protection Organisation of the exporting country and shows the seeds have been properly inspected, are free from pests and disease and meet Thailand’s plant health requirements.
Learn more about Phytosanitary Certificates.
Certificate of Origin
A Certificate of Origin is a legal declaration of where the cannabis seeds were sourced. It includes a brief product description, the name of the country of origin and its destination. This certificate is prepared and signed by the exporter and notarised with an official stamp by a representative of the Chamber of Commerce of the exporting country. It demonstrates to the Thai customs authorities where the seeds have come from and that the shipment has been reviewed by the Chamber of Commerce. This information is crucial for them to decide which taxes and duties must be applied.
Learn more about Certificates of Origin.
Seed Purity Statement
A seed purity statement is a document created and supplied by the company supplying the seeds. It states that the correct tests and procedures have been followed to ensure that the seeds are pure and not accompanied by contaminants or additional plant material. At CannaEx Trades, we provide an extensive range of premium seeds (via Sensible Seeds and our other partners) that come with seed purity statements in preparation for international shipment.
Learn more about our High-Quality Genetics and Premium Seeds.
Non-GMO Documentation
Non-GMO documentation provides the necessary verification that all steps have been taken to ensure that the cannabis seeds are completely GMO-free. One of the key provisions of Thailand’s new cannabis seed importing framework is that any imported seeds must not be genetically modified. The required non-GMO documentation will be provided by the seed supplier.
Learn more about Import/Export Documentation.
Certificates of Analysis
A certificate of analysis is the result of tests carried out by a third-party lab. They demonstrate that the seed is what the supplier claims it is, confirming its purity and potency. CannaEx Trades has an account with Fera Science that allows us to arrange for the tests required to produce certificates of analysis.
Learn more about Fera Science.
Commercial Invoice & Packing List
A commercial invoice is a customs document showing detailed information and commodity codes related to the shipment. This allows customs to quickly ascertain that the shipment meets the requirements of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Commercial invoices are created and filled out by the person or organization exporting the seeds.
ISTA Blue International Seed Sample Certificate (BIC)
The ISTA Blue International Seed Sample Certificate provides evidence of the quality of a specific seed sample. This certificate provides detailed information about the sample’s purity and germination results. Issued only by ISTA-accredited labs, this certificate is a seal of reliability and ensures the seed sample has undergone rigorous testing. At CannaEx Trades, we ensure that our seeds are accompanied by this certificate when applicable, ensuring a swift passage through customs.
How Can I Make This Process Easier?
Even after legalization, importing cannabis or hemp seeds into Thailand is a challenging process with many parcels failing to make it through customs successfully. A great way to ensure your seeds get through is to purchase them from an experienced partner like us at CannaEx Trades.
CannaEx Trades is the only UK company with all the necessary permissions and licenses to correctly export cannabis seeds into Thailand. With many existing partnerships with companies in Thailand (such as Irie Seeds), all the required UK licenses and a longstanding relationship with the UK testing agency, CannaEx Trades is uniquely placed to support you through the whole export/import process.
We’re happy to share our knowledge with our clients and can quickly provide the correct testing and paperwork for compliant shipping (except the import permit which is the sole responsibility of the importer). While hundreds of packages are stuck in Thai customs with incorrect paperwork, we have a history of multiple shipments to Thai clients, all arriving without any problems.
If you purchase your seeds through CannaEx Trades, we can streamline the process and shorten the time it takes for you to receive your cannabis seeds. While most companies will take about six weeks to complete the testing process, we can complete it in only three. Additionally, if you order seeds from our pre-tested SSP and ACE Seeds range you’ll receive your order within a week.
All seeds purchased through us are derived from Hop Latent Viroid (HLVd) free parents and pre-tested by the UK Plant Agency to ensure a pristine start for your projects.
With dedicated service from order to delivery and experts on hand at every stage, let CannaEx Trades use its experience and extensive connections to take the hassle out of exporting cannabis seeds to Thailand. To find out more, reach out to us at the contact details below or via the contact form.
