Revised Phytosanitary Requirements for the Import of Plants and Plant Products from South American Tropics

With reference to the pest risk analysis of Microcyclus ulei conducted by rubber growing member countries of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC), which was later published by the FAO in 2011 as Book 1 in the Protection of South American Leaf Blight (SALB) of rubber in Asia and Pacific region, conclusion of the product risk assessment directs that the associated risk for the import of non-host materials from endemic countries ranged from negligible to low.A pest risk analysis of SALB was also conducted in Singapore on plants and plant products imported from South American Tropics. The product risk assessment was based on the pest risk analysis on SALB adopted by APPPC in 2007. The assessed overall pest risk for SALB for Singapore is considered as negligible for host and non-host materials imported into Singapore.Based on detection survey conducted in Singapore from 2005 until 2020, samples were submitted for laboratory testing and there was no reported detection of SALB from imported plants and plant products sourced from South American Tropics. Rubber leaf samples taken from rubber enclaves in Singapore also yielded negative results.With an assessed negligible risk, Microcyclus ulei does not qualify as a regulated quarantine pest of Singapore. As such, there is no technical justification for Singapore to continue to impose the phytosanitary measures in line with SALB on imported plants and plant products originating from South American Tropics. In adherence to the WTO SPS Agreement and the International Plant Protection Convention, the revised requirements for imports from South American Tropics can be found here:https://www.nparks.gov.sg/services/plant-health-services/circulars