Agriculture Dept Confirms Common Basil Unaffected by New Variety Registration
Thailand's Department of Agriculture has clarified that the registration of new 'Kaeo Churee' basil varieties only protects those specific research strains, not common local basil. People can continue growing, selling, and cooking with regular basil varieties without restrictions. The department is also seeking public input on amending the Plant Variety Protection Act.
On October 22, 2026, Krisan Uttamawetin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, addressed the registration of 'Kaeo Churee 01-04' basil varieties. He clarified that the protection applies solely to these newly registered research varieties and does not affect local basil or common market varieties. The original varieties do not become the property of the registrant in any way. The public can continue to grow basil for consumption, harvest and sell leaves, sell seedlings as produce, or use them in cooking for sale as normal without any offense, provided they use common seeds or seedlings, not those derived from research by agencies seeking new plant variety protection under the Plant Variety Protection Act B.E. 2542. Krisan stated that anyone wishing to produce seeds, cultivate seedlings, or graft cuttings of protected varieties for commercial sale must first obtain permission from the rights holder. The Department of Agriculture confirmed it is currently gathering feedback to amend the Plant Variety Protection Act B.E. 2542, welcoming suggestions from farmers, breeders, and the public to develop more suitable laws. For further inquiries about registration, cultivation, or sales, the public can contact the Plant Variety Protection Research Group, Plant Variety Protection Division, Department of Agriculture at 02-940-7214 or email [email protected].
