Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) is the government department responsible for the development of the rural sector in Timor-Leste. Approximately 75 percent of the population live in rural areas; the majority of which derive their livelihoods from agriculture. Goods that typically require some level of control by MAF include: Live Animals and Animal Products; Live Plants and Plant Products; Used Machinery and Vehicles; and Soil Samples. The MAF department responsible for controlling these type of goods is the Serviço de Quarentena de Timor-Leste. This department is responsible for safeguarding the health of our nation’s agricultural resources and plays a critical role in protecting our country’s agriculture and the environment from invasive plant and animal pests and diseases. It also seeks to prevent harmful human and animal foodstuffs from entering the supply chain.