Executive Decree No. 2 of 2026: Extraordinary Measures for the Importation of Certified Rice Seed

Executive Decree No. 2 of February 4, 2026 establishes extraordinary measures for the importation of certified-category rice seed of varieties formally registered in commercial variety registers in their country of origin. The measure allows natural or legal persons producing rice for human consumption to import certified seed for planting during the 2026-2027 agricultural cycle, with the objective of streamlining import procedures, improving the competitiveness of rice seed, supporting domestic producers and contributing to food security. Importers must register with the National Plant Health Directorate, submit documentation demonstrating the commercial registration of the varieties in the country of origin, provide official quality certificates for the seed lots and submit the results of phytosanitary tests required for importation. They must also sign a notarized agreement committing to use the imported seed exclusively on their own agricultural plots and not to sell, lend, transfer or otherwise commercialize it. The National Plant Health Directorate performs quarantine controls, quality analyses and phytosanitary compliance verification when the seed lots enter Panama.