Ministerial Decision No.195/2017 concerning the protection of date palm, coconut and ornamental trees, those similar to the palm tree, and their seedlings.

This Resolution consisting of 9 articles and 4 Annexes aims at protecting some species of plants through regulating their import. The ban is excluded for (i) research reasons after the consent of the Minister and a permit issued by the Directorate General for Agricultural Development; (ii) importing date palm seedlings produced in vitro, if in accordance with the terms and conditions prescribed by the Ministry; and (iii) date palm vegetation parts produced in one of the GCC countries in chemically or thermally induced industrial growth, which does not contain sand, natural soil or organic substances, provided that their importation is in accordance with the conditions and controls set forth in Annex 2 attached to this Resolution. Article 4 prohibits the transfer of date palm, coconut and ornamental trees and their seedlings and all their vegetation parts from the areas declared as agricultural quarantine areas, except for transfers within the area of the quarantine itself provided that treated with pesticides recommended. The import from other then the above-mentioned areas is permitted only after obtaining a permit from the local Department or the Agricultural Development Center. Annex 1 specifies rules for the import of date palms seedling in vitro; Annex 3 lists the kinds of date palms and seedlings prohibited to be imported; Annex 3 specifies terms and conditions to export palm vegetation parts.