Plants and plant products of any species including plant germplasms are restricted from entry into Bhutan by its laws. This ensures that the biosecurity risk to Bhutan’s agricultural industries and unique environment is minimized.
Prior permission must be obtained from BAFRA to import any plant or their products including plant germplasms.
While at the entry point, the importer must declare these imported plants or their products to BAFRA officials on duty along with relevant documents who would check and determine whether they can be allowed into Bhutan.
Some products may require treatment to make them safe. Other items may be restricted due to pest and disease risks.
The plants and their products that you find in Bhutan are being subjected to regular surveillance for pest and disease outbreaks. Similar items that are purchased overseas could carry biosecurity pest or disease risks and hence, cannot be imported without prior permission from BAFRA.
Upon receipt of the request to import the plant and their products into the country, BAFRA conducts import risk assessment. If the biosecurity risk is minimal, import is authorized but with certain conditions viz. the need for the phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. If the biosecurity risk is high, requests for import of plants and their products is denied.
Export of endangered or protected species of plant and their products from Bhutan is restricted. Otherwise, each country has specific requirements as to items that are allowed to be imported. For further information you should contact the relevant country’s quarantine office.
Raising and import of following species has been totally banned in the country as per Plant quarantine rule 2003 and executive order No. SEC/MoAF/DoFPs/Ptn/1-1/2017-2018/261 dated 26th March,2018
The list of totally protected species for export are;
S No | Local Name | Common name | Scientific name |
1 | Agar/Agaru | Eagle wood/ Indian aloe wood | Aquilaria malaccensis |
2 | Yartsa-quenboo | Chinese Caterpillar | Cordyceps sinensis |
3 | Pang –gen metog |
| Gentiana crassuloides |
4 | Snow down lily |
| Lloydia yunnanensis |
5 | Tsher -ngeon | Blue poppy | Meconopsis grandis |
6 | Yew | Kirang -shing | Taxus baccata |
7 | Bhreeng–gee-re-dza | Ginseng | Panx Pseudo ginseng |
The above list is totally protected species as per the forest and nature conservation Act 1995.
Fees for issuing import permit and certificates are
SI/No | Name of Permit/Certificate | Fees (Nu) |
1 | Import permit (commercial purposes) | 300 |
2 | Import permit (personal purposes) | 100 |
3 | Import permit for agrochemicals (commercials purposes) | 100 |
4 | Phytosanitary certificate (commercial) | 300 |
5 | Phytosanitary certificate (Personal) | 100 |
6 | In country movement permit (commercial and personal) | 20 |
Import of animals/plants and their products are allowed into the country with prior approval and obtaining Import Permit from BAFRA. At arrival at the point of entry, the consignment intended for import must be accompanied with a Phytosanitary Certificate for plant consignment and Zoo-sanitary Certificate for animal consignment...more
The primary mandates of Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) is to implement effective biosecurity measures to protect the agriculture farming system including animal health, and public health from risks of entry, establishment and spread of exotic and or notifiable pests and diseases. Thus, a major role is placed...more
BAFRA facilitates the export of plant and plant products by issuing the certificates as per the requirements of the importing country following the procedure below...more
BAFRA issues food handlers license after a health interview, training on food safety, and signing an undertaking that the food handler and all those under their supervision avoid themselves from handling food under certain conditions of illness as listed below...more
A person who intends to operate a food business requires a food safety license from BAFRA. BAFRA issues food safety licence to a food business that complies with BAFRA GHP/GMP Criteria for Licensing of food business. To obtain a food safety licence...more
To provide food testing services to the regulators, food businesses and the general public, National Food Testing Laboratory was established, and it has following testing facilities..more
BAFRA provides product certification services to support the farmers, industries and commerce in Bhutan for market access and trade facilitation. BAFRA implements product certification in conformity with ISO IEC 17065:2012 to provide a third party mark of certification. Our certification services will enable you...more
1. Bhutan Biosafety Clearing House (BBCH)
2. Regulated Plant Pests and Diseases Database
3. Laboratory Information Management System
4. Bhutan Bio-security and Food Safety System
5. SPS Portal
NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Post Box: 1071,
Thimphu, Bhutan, Tel: +975-02-327031/325790 Fax: +975-02-327032/335540