Thai Agriculture Ministry Clarifies Holy Basil Registration Rules
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has clarified that recent plant variety registrations for holy basil do not restrict the public from growing or selling common varieties.
On October 22, 2026, the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives addressed public concerns regarding the registration of specific holy basil varieties, such as 'Kaew Juree 01–04.' According to Kris Uttamavetin, spokesperson for the Ministry, the registration process under the Plant Variety Protection Act (1999) applies exclusively to the specific new varieties developed through research.
For residents and visitors, this means that common holy basil remains unrestricted. Individuals may continue to grow, harvest, and sell traditional holy basil for personal consumption or culinary business purposes without legal repercussions. The Ministry emphasized that these protections do not grant ownership over native or general market varieties. However, those wishing to propagate or sell seeds and seedlings of the specific protected research varieties must obtain prior authorization from the rights holder.
This clarification is significant as the government is currently soliciting public feedback to amend the 1999 Plant Variety Protection Act. The Ministry aims to refine the law to better suit the country's current agricultural context. Those with specific questions regarding plant registration or commercial cultivation are encouraged to contact the Plant Variety Protection Division of the Department of Agriculture at 02-940-7214 or via email at [email protected]. Further developments regarding the legislative amendments remain to be confirmed as the public consultation process continues.
