Plant Health - Internet trade in plants
| Businesses and individuals wishing to import
plants over the internet from outside the EC are reminded that
the normal Plant Health controls apply to these purchases. Some
plants and plant produce are prohibited from entering this country.
Others are restricted and must be accompanied by a phytosanitary
("plant health") certificate (because of the risk of
pests and diseases travelling with the plants and affecting UK
or EC production) issued by the exporting country. This is essentially
a statement that the plants or plant produce to which it relates
have been officially inspected in the country of origin (or country
of despatch), comply with statutory requirements for entry into
the EC, are free from quarantine pests and diseases, and are substantially
free from other organisms. Everyone involved in this trade (whether you are an importer in this country or an exporter in the country of despatch) should check the import requirements, which are set out in The Plant Health Guide for Importers (PB1881) available from Defra Publications. Internet purchases imported by post should have the certificates enclosed in an envelope marked "For the attention of customs" securely attached to the outside of the package. If the certificate relates to more than one package, the original certificate should be attached to one of them in this way and a copy of it attached to each of the others. Remember that the purpose of these controls is to protect Britain from harmful plant pests and diseases which currently do not occur here. |
Page last modified:
3 Nov 2006
Page published: 21 Jul 2003