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Why and how to apply for a plant import permit?

Why do you need a plant import permit?

To help protect Mauritius’ unique environment from unwanted pests and diseases, the National Plant Protection Office regulates plant and plant products imported into Mauritius. As such, the importation of Plant or Plant Parts and plant products for personal or commercial use is subject to a Plant Import Permit (PIP) under section 19 of the Plant Protection Act (2006).

All products are subject to biosecurity import conditions. Some products are not permitted entry while other products are only allowed into Mauritius subject to meeting import conditions that mitigate the biosecurity risk.

It is your responsibility to comply with the NPPO’s import conditions when importing into Mauritius.

Contact us

To help you comply with your biosecurity obligations, the NPPO has established a team to answer your questions about import conditions and permits.

You can contact the team on weekdays from 8:45 hours to 16:00 by:
Phone: 465-4902
Email: moa-pathology@govmu.org

How to apply for a plant import permit?

If you wish to import any agricultural commodities into Mauritius, you will require a Plant Import Permit. The permit must be granted before the goods arrive in Mauritius. Importers must ensure that permits are applied for well in advance of the expected landing date of their consignment. Commodities which are imported without a valid import permit may be re-exported or destroyed at the importer’s expense. The department will assess your application and may decide to grant a Plant Import Permit subject to appropriate Sanitary and Phytosanitary conditions deemed necessary for safe importation.

For the importation of biofertilisers

  • For importation of Biofertilisers, the following documents should be submitted by the applicant at the time of application for a Plant Import Permit:
  1. Manufacturers questionnaire (Download link below)
  2. Artwork of product labels front and back

Please note that

  • Commodities like dried whole onions, fresh whole garlic, fresh whole potatoes, onion seeds, garlic seeds and seed potatoes are controlled products which are regulated by the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB). Therefore, clearances are required from the AMB at import level prior to issuance of Plant Import Permits.
  • For commodities like tea (green tea and black tea), prior to issuance of permits, approval is required from National Agricultural Products Regulatory Office (NAPRO) which regulate import of such products.
  • For commodities like sweet pepper, broccoli, green cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot and chrysanthemum fresh cut flowers, approval is required from FAREI prior to issuance of a Plant Import Permit.

Applying for an import permit does not automatically result in an import permit being issued.

Online application

Applications for a PIP are to be made electronically on the Tradenet Portal.

For first time applications, the public is kindly advised to contact the MNS Customer Service department for training and registration on 401-6805 or by email on customer.service@mns.mu

PIPs are issued electronically.

Manual application

For importation of agricultural machinery, the public is informed that all applications for PIP should be submitted manually.

Plant import permits submitted manually will be issued
within 5 working days.

Please note that

Applications may take longer to process if:

  • They require pest risk assessment
  • Incomplete or incorrect information is provided by the applicant
  • Additional information is required to continue the assessment (applicants will be notified of this by the assessing officers)
  • It is a novel product or is being imported from a new country
  • It is reported to be an invasive species and therefore has to be assessed by the Invasive Aliens Species Committee under the National Parks & Conservation Service
  • It is a high risk planting material and therefore has to be assessed by the Plant Biosecurity Technical Committee
  • It is a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) of Wild Fauna and Flora  listed species and would require authorisation from the National Parks and Conservation Service.

Fees applicable for a plant import permit

AN APPLICATION FEE OF RS 100 IS PAYABLE AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION FOR A PLANT IMPORT PERMIT

Rs. 100 /PIP

PS: NO FEE IS PAYABLE AT THE TIME OF CLEARANCE

What to do once the plant import permit is issued?

The PIP, once issued, should be sent to your supplier, who should ensure that the phytosanitary import conditions are certified by the plant protection authorities of the exporting country.

A phytosanitary certificate should be issued accordingly by the Plant Protection Authority of the exporting country, certifying the phytosanitary import conditions.

The Phytosanitary Certificate should be submitted with the application for clearance, upon arrival of the consignment.

One Plant Import Permit applies for only one shipment and hence an application should be made for each and every consignment.

Please note that a Plant Import Permit is valid for a period of 4 months unless otherwise mentioned in the Plant Import Permit.