Farming
Plant exports
There are a number of controls in place on the movement of plants, plant material and seeds to guard against the harmful spread of pests and diseases.
Defra’s Plant Health Division and Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) can provide advice on exporting to non-European Union (EU) countries. For movements within and between EU member states you should refer to Defra’s Plant Passports section.
You should also refer to Defra’s plant health exports page for the latest information.
For personal exports check import regulations with the embassy of the country to which you are traveling.
Exports to EU countries
Under EC rules, health checks take place at the country of production. There are no border checks within the EU, though spot checks can take place.
It is your responsibility to ensure that plants are healthy for movement.
However, some plants and produce which can host serious diseases and pests require a plant passport for movement within and between EU countries. Some plants which host certain pests and diseases also require a supplier document - usually the same document as the plant passport.
There are additional requirements if you move specified plants into “Protected Zones” - areas free of plant pests which are found elsewhere in the EU. Plant passports to Protected Zones are called ZP passports. You should contact your local Plant Health and Seeds Inspector (PHSI) for further details on obtaining ZP passports.
Details of plants and materials requiring plant passports/supplier documents and Protected Zone requirements are included in Defra’s Plant Health Guide to Plant Passporting and Marketing Requirements (PDF document, 1640 KB).
To issue plant passports you must be authorised for this purpose. For full details of who must be authorised, see the Plant Health Guide to Plant Passporting and Marketing Requirements.
Authorisation is based on annual inspection, for which you are charged a fee. See Defra’s plant passporting forms or contact your local PHSI for further details
Once authorised, you can issue as many plant passports as you need. Authorisation can be withdrawn if passports are issued incorrectly.
Potatoes
If you grow seed potatoes, these require plant passporting at every stage of the EU trade chain under the Seed Potato Classification Scheme.
Ware potatoes do not need plant passports, but are subject to a “trace back” scheme to trace any health problems back to source. Defra uses the British Potato Council register of producers.
The plant health registration number of the grower or packer must be clearly printed on all bags containing potatoes or, for loose potatoes loaded in bulk, on the delivery note.
- For growers/packers registered with the British Potato Council the plant health registration number is their BPC registration number.
- For growers/packers not registered with the BPC then it must be the registration number allocated by PHSI to each firm.
Exports to countries outside the EU
Most countries have plant health import requirements, though these vary from country to country. Defra’s Plant Health Division and the local PHSI can provide information on most countries’ requirements.
Most countries require a phytosanitary – plant health – certificate issued by the plant health authority in the exporting country.
In England and Wales, these are issued by the PHSI or the Plant Health Division, and in Scotland, by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. For Northern Ireland, contact the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Certificates are based on inspection by the PHSI. Some cases may also involve soil sampling, growing season inspections and laboratory inspections.
Some countries also require that imports are accompanied by an import permit by the plant health authority in the importing country.
There are charges for export certification services and issuing phytosanitary certificates. These may be reduced for regular exporters.
Defra aims to deliver certificates for the date requested, provided applications are received 7 days in advance.
For further information, see Explanatory Leaflet – Export Certification Services and export forms.
Endangered species
See the UK CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species UK) website for restrictions on exports of endangered species.
Export opportunities
The International Agriculture & Technology Centre (IATC) offers advice and support in finding new markets.
Useful links
Defra
The Plant Health (England) Order 2005
Plant Health Guide to Plant Passporting and Marketing Requirements
Explanatory Leaflet – Export Certification Services
External
Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department
UKCITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species UK
Further information
Defra helpline – 08459 33 55 77
Page last modified: 1 July 2006
Page published: 1 July 2006