KUCHING: You need permits to bring orchids from other countries to Sarawak as well as to export them to other countries.
During the recent 13th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference 2019 (APOC13) here, the Sarawak Forest Department issued a total of 183 permits.
It said in a press statement 92 Orchid Export Licence permits were issued to those who brought in orchids from other countries.
A total of 91 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permits were also issued to those who had purchased orchids during APOC13 to bring them back to their respective countries.
The Forest Department’s head of Permit and Licensing Unit from the Conservation and Environmental Protection Division Dayang Nuriza Abang Abdillah explained that orchids were protected under Sarawak’s Wildlife Ordinance 1998.
“Permits for exports of orchids is one way of preventing their extinction.
“In addition, Phytosanitary Certificates are required under the Plant Quarantine Act 1976 and the Plant Quarantine Regulations 1981,” she added.
At APOC13, both the Forestry Department and Department of Agriculture opened a One-Stop Counter to help customers deal with permits and certificates.
It was learned that delegates from Indonesia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Ecuador applied for the permits.
