Cannabis seeds in Thailand; for every cannabis grower aspiring to apply for a GACP Certification seeds are the first step toward compliance: every single seed must be traceable and regularly imported, Hence the importance of following basic regulatory rules that we summarize in this article.
The import of cannabis seeds in Thailand is regulated by the Department of Agriculture
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COMPANY SEEDS IMPORT LICENSE
Company must be authorized to import cannabis seeds in Thailand; the consideration from the Authority (DTAM, under FDA) is both documentary and physical, with reference to the registered address.
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DECLARATION OF PRODUCT IMPORTED (CANNABIS/HEMP) AND COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
In this phase the applicant submits declarations about: 1) seeds he will import (cannabis or hemp?) and 2) countries he will import from. Every seed type and every Country must be recorded in this phase. This allows the system to be able to request the relevant documentation in the next steps. Every Country and every product require a separate application.
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PRODUCT LICENSE – AUTHORIZATION TO IMPORT
This is the effective license for seeds (permit to import the seeds listed in previous step). Validity of this document is 5 years and can be used multiple times. One license shall be issued for every Country of origin/strain/species.
Some document must be issued by the supplier:
- Specifications of seeds varieties/strains to be imported (Variety Profile): the supplier can guarantee with a statement the specifications of imported seeds such as characteristics of the variety, size, color, etc.
- Certificate that the plant is not genetically modified (Non-GMOs). Document must refer to the specific importer (can’t be a generic declaration)
Other documents are issued by overseas Authorities
A) Phytosanitary certificate (Phytosanitary Certificate), that must: specify the name of the chemical and the rate used in seed mixing and contain one of the two below declarations, depending on the International agreements between origin and destination Countries:
“The consignment of Cannabis and hemp seeds was produced in [country] where Pseudomonas syringae pv. cannabina, Xanthomonas campestris pv. cannabis, Dithylenchus dipsaci, Arabis mosaic virus, Alfafa mosaic virus, Orobanche ramose, Cuscuta spp. and Striga spp. are not known to occur.” OR
“The consignment of Cannabis and hemp seeds was tested and found free from Pseudomonas syringae pv. cannabina, Xanthomonas campestris pv. cannabis, Ditylenchus dipsaci, Arabis mosaic virus, Alfalfa mosaic virus, Orobanche ramose, Cuscuta spp. and Striga spp.”
B) Certificate of seed quality indicating germination is more than 70% and Physical purity is at least 98%; certificate must be issued by government agencies or private organizations in the country of origin recognized by international organizations like ISTA or AOSA
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AUTHORIZATION FOR SINGLE IMPORT (BATCH)
Once the licenses for Company and for every species/strain/origin of seeds have been acquired, it is possible to import the seeds. Every batch must be previously authorized by DOA. Importer must notify the import of seeds by providing, before shipment, the following documents:
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LABELING IN THAI LANGUAGE
A label in Thai language must be applied outside the package intended for sale Label can be applied before the shipment or during custom operations. Whether possible, it’s advisable to ship out the product with the label applied.
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CANNABIS SEEDS SALE LICENSE (NOTIFICATION)
If imported seeds are imported and sold in the venue registered as import place, this license is not required.
If the importer wants to sell seeds for commercial purpose (with a trademark/commercial name) in a different venue, he must notify to DOA this place.
If a Company wants to buy and resell seeds in Thailand this license is necessary and mandatory. Licensed Company have the obligation of traceability of the products: where they buy, and who they sell to.
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REPACKING LICENSE
this license is required when the imported seeds are sold in a packaging (box graphics, commercial name, trademark, content) different from the imported one.
Repacking license needs the company to have a proper venue (registered as branch), with hygienic specifications and with characteristics that will be evaluated case by case by the DOA. Officers will inspect the venue on request of the applicants and evaluate the machinery used, the working space, the equipment, and eventually issue the license.
This license is needed also in case of seeds are self-produced in a grow facility.
What I need to do if I grow seeds in my plantation?
If seeds are grown for internal usage, no license is required.
If seed are grown for commercial purpose, the company needs to get the full licenses, the company must fulfill the following obligations:
- Obtain a Cannabis Grow License
- Proceed with a Seeds Sales Notification
- Obtain a Cannabis Seeds Repacking License
- Respect rules of Cannabis Seeds Labelling
For any additional information on import, grow and sale of cannabis seeds in Thailand, you can contact our Cannabis Regulatory Department: [email protected]
