The Department of Agriculture wishes to advise and remind the general public and businesses that you are required to obtain a Plant Import Permit from the Department of Agriculture before placing an order to import any plants, plant products and regulated articles. Plants, plant products and regulated articles include, but are not limited to: Seeds, Live plants, cut flowers and branches, plant cuttings, fruits and vegetables and regulated articles such as sand, soil and aggregates.
An application for an Import Permit should be submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Unit in advance of ordering the products that you wish to import, as a Pest Risk Analysis must first be conducted to determine if the products will be allowed entry and under what conditions. Standard conditions for entry into the Federation include: the importer obtaining a Phytosanitary Certificate (plant health) from the country of export, inspection of the goods on arrival by a Plant Quarantine Inspector and the consignment should be free from pests, diseases and soil.
Please note that these measures are necessary to prevent the introduction of foreign plant pests and diseases into the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and we anticipate your cooperation in the interest of protecting plant health and ensuring food security. Note well: Failure to adhere to import protocols may result in confiscation and destruction of goods.
For further queries, please contact the Department of Agriculture, Plant Quarantine Unit at La Guerite, Basseterre; 467-1826/1832/1825 or plantquarantine@gov.kn. Further information may also be accessed from the Department’s website at: https://www.agriculture.gov.kn/import-to-st-kitts
26th August, 2020
