Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture has warned tourists and locals that bringing fresh fruit into the country without legal permission is subject to criminal prosecution, CTN News reported.
The department emphasized that a special phytosanitary certificate is required for the import of food from other countries.
“Passengers who violate the Plant Quarantine Law face a fine of 20,000 baht ($584), imprisonment for one year, or both,” the newspaper writes.
Thai Agriculture Minister Rapiphat Chantarasrivong explained that the ban is often ignored by Thais returning home from South Korea and Japan.
“When they come back from there, they like to bring fresh fruit with them, like persimmons and grapes, which are cheaper there than in Thailand.
We would like to warn them that such behavior is illegal, regardless of the intention with which it was done, or because of ignorance of the law,” the Thai official said.
The department also added that all illegally imported products will be seized and burned at high temperatures so that “viruses do not damage Thailand’s agriculture,” KhaoSod News reported. The line ministry and Thai airport officials are developing strategies to implement a mechanism to enforce the rule.
“An Australian tourist was previously stopped at Phuket airport for trying to smuggle in papaya and coconut without the necessary documentation. Last year, a UK couple was detained at Bangkok airport for trying to smuggle mangoes hidden in their luggage,” officials said.