Conditions for Importing & Exporting CITES Species (Plant)

Import of CITES plants and its products into Singapore

All imports of live plants, seeds and certain plant products into Singapore require a phytosanitary certificate to certify that they conform to our phytosanitary requirements. In addition, CITES permits are required for all imports of CITES-listed plant species, unless they are specifically exempted under the Convention.

Please refer to the following guide for the import requirements for CITES-listed plants and plant products:

Type	Appendix	Would you require a CITES export permit from country of origin/re-export?	Would you require a CITES import permit from NParks?	Additional Information
Live plants (eg. Orchids, Cacti)	I	Yes	Yes	Import is permitted only for artificially propagated CITES-listed species under Appendix I Imports of wild CITES-listed species (Appendix I) will be considered on a case-to-case basis.
Live plants (eg. Orchids, Cacti)	II and III	Yes	No (for plants that are artificially propagated)	For the import of wild CITES-listed species under Appendix II and III, you require an NParks-issued CITES import permit.
Dead plants, parts and products (eg. manufactured products from Rosewood, Agarwood)	I	Yes	Yes
	II and III	Yes	Yes

*There are permit exemptions accorded to certain CITES-listed plant species. Please refer to “The Schedule of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act” for more details. If in doubt, please write to us at CITES@nparks.gov.sg.

Please obtain all shipping documents including CITES permits and Cargo Clearance Permits prior to the arrival of your consignment to Singapore. For more information on how to obtain the relevant permits, please refer to our guidelines. You may proceed to arrange for the import of the CITES-listed plant species after you have obtained the necessary documents.

At arrival, original copies of the CITES permits must be presented to NParks or ICA officers at the port of entry, for inspection and/or endorsement during clearance. Failure to do so may result in a delay in clearance or detention of your consignment. Action may be taken against importers who do not comply with requirements under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.

After clearance, the original copy of the foreign CITES permit must be submitted to NParks for recording at HortPark Visitor Services Centre [click here for the location]. Receipt of the original foreign CITES permit is necessary in order to activate the import stock card(s) tagged to the import consignment. This will enable the use of these stock(s) for subsequent CITES re-export permit applications.

HortPark Visitor Services Centre

33 Hyderabad Road, Singapore 119578

Tel: 6471 5601

9:00am to 12:00pm; 1:00pm to 5:00pm

(Mondays to Fridays)

If required, importers can apply for a CITES re-export permit online thereafter.

Export and re-export of CITES-listed plants and plant products

Before exporting or re-exporting your CITES-listed plants and plant products, do ensure that you are aware and comply with the import requirements of your country of destination. You can usually obtain information about these requirements from the website of the destination country’s relevant government authority.

Once you have obtained the necessary documents (e.g. import permits) to fulfil the import requirements of your destination country, you can proceed to apply for a phytosanitary certificate via GoBusiness.

In Singapore, the phytosanitary certificate is recognised as a certificate of artificial propagation. It can be used in lieu of a CITES permit for the export or re-export of artificially propagated CITES-listed plant species under Appendix II or III. A CITES export permit is required otherwise.

Please refer to the following guide for the export and re-export requirements for CITES-listed plants and plant products:

Type	Appendix	Would you require a CITES export permit from NParks?	Would you require a CITES import permit from country of destination?	Remarks
Live plants (eg. Orchids, Cacti)	I	Yes	Check with country of destination.	Export and re-export is permitted only for artificially propagated CITES-listed species under Appendix I. Export and re-export of wild CITES-listed species under Appendix I will be considered on a case-to-case basis.
	II and III	Artificially propagated CITES-listed plant species Phytosanitary certificate is used in lieu of a CITES export or re-export permit. Wild CITES-listed plant species A CITES export or re-export permit is required.	Check with country of destination
Dead plants, parts and products (eg. manufactured products from Rosewood, Agarwood)	I	Yes	**Check with country of destination.	Approval for export or re-export will be considered only on a case-by-case basis.
	II and III	Yes	**Check with country of destination.

**Before arranging to ship out your CITES-listed plants or plant products, you are advised to check if a CITES import permit issued by the CITES authorities of your destination country is required. You can find the contacts of the CITES authorities here.

Please obtain all shipping documents including CITES permits and Cargo Clearance Permits prior to the departure of your consignment from Singapore. For more information how to obtain the relevant permits, please refer to our guidelines here.

Do ensure that your CITES export or re-export permit is endorsed at the port of exit by NParks or ICA officers prior to departure. It is invalid without the endorsement and your shipment may be refused entry into or confiscated at the country of destination.

Once the CITES permit application has been approved, applicants can proceed to self-print the CITES permit on single-side, plain A4 white paper (normal 70 or 80gsm) in non-colour.

Every issued CITES permit is valid for one consignment only. There should be no attempts to print multiple copies of the same CITES permit number for re-use, or reprint a lost/damaged/defaced permit.

NParks issued CITES permit will be issued with a QR code on the top right-hand side of the permit. This QR code allows for the permit to be authenticated by Customs and foreign CITES Management Authorities officers through a secured Government verification website (verify.gov.sg). The resultant scanning of the QR code will display the permit details on-screen, with remarks indicating that the document is issued by the Singapore Government and not been tampered with.

Transit or transhipment of CITES plants and products via Singapore (no local consignee)

For the transit or transhipment of CITES-listed plants and plant products through Singapore which does not involve a local consignee, the consignment must be accompanied by a CITES export or re-export permit from the exporting or re-exporting country and if required, a CITES import permit from the country of destination. Failure to ensure compliance with CITES may result in delay or detention of the consignment. Action may be taken against agents who do not comply with requirements under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act.

For transit or transhipments involving local consignees, the consignment is considered an import for re-export. This classification also applies to CITES specimens or shipment that remains or is temporarily stored at the free trade zone, whether or not it involves re-packing. The following requirements apply:

1. Your consignment must be accompanied by a valid CITES export or re-export permit issued by the exporting or re-exporting country’s relevant CITES authority, as well as a CITES import permit from NParks.

2. You must obtain and present both the CITES export or re-export permit, and the CITES import permit, to NParks prior to your specimen’s arrival in Singapore.

3. The CITES permits and other shipping documents must be available for inspection when required by NParks or port authorities.

4. Obtain the CITES re-export permit from NParks before your specimen or shipment departs.