Import requirements for plants, plant produce and products

May 20, 2023

Updated 12 June 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plant-species-by-import-category/import-requirements-for-plants-plant-produce-and-products

This guide applies to plants and plant products which need phytosanitary control to be imported to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

It will not fully apply to imports from the EU to Great Britain until the end of the phased import process. Read the guide on how to import plants and plant products from the EU to Great Britain and Northern Ireland for more detail on the phased approach.

If you need help with import notifications, you can call the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helpline on 03300 416 999 or email [email protected].

It is divided into 5 categories of phytosanitary control and 6 commodity groups, explaining which category and commodity groups different products fall into.

This guide is based on ‘The Plant Health (Phytosanitary Conditions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020’ and references other legislation where appropriate, for example in the cases of genera that have species exemptions or when a derogation applies to certain countries only.

Plants, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, soil and other regulated objects (for example, machinery) fall into 5 categories of phytosanitary control:

The guide is divided into the following commodity groups:

‘All countries’ refers to countries other than GB.

‘EU Member States’ refers to the 27 member countries of the EU.

‘European countries’ refers to:

‘Euro-Med’ refers to:

‘The Americas’ refers to Continental North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

All plants for planting are regulated. They’re either regulated and require pre-notification or are prohibited.

Plants for planting include, but are not limited to:

A full definition of plants for planting can be found in Article 2 of the Plant Health Regulation 2016/2031.

(a) Read Official Controls Regulations 2021/426 for species exemptions.

(a) Fruits of Momordica originating from other countries or areas of other countries are prohibited where Thrips palmi Karny is known to occur and where effective mitigation measures for that pest are lacking.

This section includes cut flowers, parts of plants for decoration or culinary purposes and vegetables (excluding fruits and seeds).

(a) Plants, other than fruit and seeds, of Fraxinus are prohibited from any country where Agrilus planipennis is known to occur.

Growing medium includes:

This is provided they are free of organic material such as roots, grasses, leaf litter and other parts of plants.

Growing medium does not include:

You can call the HMRC helpline 0300 322 9434. Monday to Friday 8am to 10pm, and Saturday to Sunday 8am to 4pm.