‘Plant’ means a living plant or a living part of a plant at any stage of growth. This includes trees and shrubs.

‘Plant product’ means a product of plant origin that is unprocessed or has had a simple preparation. This includes wood and bark.

TheseThe rulesguidance on this page also applyapplies to goods imported by post or courier for commercial purposes (toby bepost soldor onwards).courier. Contact your post or courier service for more information, and to seefind out if they offer an import service.service for commercial imports and for more information about the process.

Read differentseparate guidance toif importyou’re:

• importing plants and plant products:
  • products from the EU to Northern Ireland
  • importing plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain
  • bringing plants and plant products to Great Britain for personal use

  ReadIf differentyou’re guidanceimporting fruit and vegetables from the EU to importGreat timber,Britain, woodyou productsalso need to follow quality and barklabelling rules.

  Plant health checks are carried out by:

  • APHA (the (the Animal and Plant Health Agency) in England and Wales
  • SASA (Science (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) in Scotland

  BeforeRisk youcategorisation startfor imports

  1. Check

     Plants ifand yourplant goodsproducts areimported prohibited.

  2. Findfrom outthe ifEU you are using any wood packaging material, as it will need to meetGreat theBritain Internationalare Standardcategorised foras:
     • high Phytosanitaryrisk
     • medium Measuresrisk (ISPM) 15.A
     • Checkmedium ifrisk yourB
     • low plantrisk

     Plant orhealth plantcontrols productapply isto animports endangeredof specieshigh thatrisk isand listedmedium onrisk the ConventionA onand InternationalB Tradeplants inand Endangeredplant Speciesproducts.

     Low ofrisk Wildplants Fauna and Floraplant (CITES)products list. Thendo you’llnot need to applygo forthrough aany CITESplant permithealth to import.

  controls.

  Prohibited goods

  SomeThe goodsassessment areof prohibitedplant fromhealth enteringrisk Greatis Britainongoing ifand theyrisk cannotcategorisations meetmay change.

  Check the importrisk requirementscategory for scientificallyyour justified reasons.goods.

  It

  Plant mayhealth becontrols possiblefor tohigh importrisk prohibitedand goodsmedium intorisk GreatA Britainand withB agoods

  If scientificyou authorisation,import ifhigh theyrisk meetor themedium qualifyingrisk criteria.A Readplants moreand about moving specified plants, plant pests,products pathogensyou andneed soil.to:

  Find

  1. Register theto riskimport categoryif you’re importing for yourthe goods

  Plantsfirst andtime.

• Get planta productsphytosanitary importedcertificate from theyour EU toexporter.
• Meet Greatthe BritainISPM are15 categorisedinternational as:
  • highstandard risk
  • mediumfor riskany A
  • mediumwood riskpackaging Bmaterial you use.
  • lowNotify risk

  Highthe risk,relevant mediumauthorities riskabout A,your andimport.

• Comply mediumwith riskdocumentary, Bidentity plants and plantphysical productschecks mustif moveneeded.
• Pay underfees for plant health controls.
  checks.

LowIf you import medium risk B plants and plant productsproducts, doyou not need toto:

1. Get goa throughphytosanitary anycertificate plantfrom healthyour controls.

   YouEU mustexporter.

2. Meet check the riskISPM category15 forinternational your goodsstandard.

   The assessmentfor ofany plantwood healthpackaging riskmaterial isyou ongoinguse.

Find andout riskthe categorisationsfrequency mayof change.

Temporarychecks measure for mediumyour risk A and B fruit and vegetables

goods.

Medium risk A and B fruit and vegetables imported from the EU are temporarily being treated as low risk and do not need to go through plant health controls. This means: 

• they do not need a phytosanitary certificate 
• you dowill not need to inform authorities that you’re importing these goods
• they will not be subject to documentary, identity and physical checks

PlantRegister healthto controls: high risk and medium risk A goodsimport

You must followregister these steps to importuse highIPAFFS risk(the orimport mediumof riskproducts, Aanimals, plantsfood and plantfeed products:

1. Registersystem) to import (ifhigh you’rerisk importingor formedium therisk firstA time).
2. Getplants aand phytosanitaryplant certificateproducts from yourthe EU exporter. You may be able to useGreat ePhytoBritain.

   After toyou getcomplete anyour electronicregistration, equivalent.

3. Notifyyou’ll thebe relevantofficially authoritiesregistered aboutas youra import.
4. Complyprofessional withoperator documentary,to identityimport plants and physical checks if needed.
5. Pay fees for plant health checks.
products.

1.

If Registeryou toneed import

Youhelp mustwith registerregistering to use the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed (IPAFFS), system). After you completecan yourcall registration,the you’llAPHA behelpline officiallyon registered03300 as416 a999 professionalor operatoremail to import plants and plant products and make import notifications.aphaservicedesk@apha.gov.uk.

Read the Forestry Commission’sCommission guidance if you want to register as a professional operator to import timber, wood products or barkbark..

2.

Get a phytosanitary certificate

YourFor EUhigh exporterrisk mustor getmedium arisk phytosanitaryA certificateor forB eachplants consignment where the plant and plant productsproducts, are:

• highyour risk
• mediumEU riskexporter A
• mediummust riskget B

Thisa phytosanitary certificate comesfor each consignment from the plant health authority in the country they’re exporting from.

A phytosanitary certificate is a statement from the plant health authority that the consignment:

• has been officially inspected or testedtested, or both
• complies with the legal requirements for entry into Great Britain, and Britain
• is free from quarantine pests and diseases

Phytosanitary certificates for import purposes must have been issued no more than 13 days before or after the date that the consignment left the country of export. There is no requirement for a consignment to arrive in Great Britain within 13 days of it leaving the country of export.

CheckIf you need a phytosanitary certificate for your consignment, check that your EU exporter has provided aone phytosanitary certificate before the consignment arrives in Great Britain,Britain. andMake sure you get a scanned copy from your exporter. You’ll need to upload this copy to IPAFFS when you complete your import notification.

ePhyto electronic certificates 

If you’re importing plantshigh fromrisk theor EUmedium intorisk GreatA Britain,plants youand mayplant beproducts, ableyou’ll need to useupload ePhyto. An ePhyto certificate is the electronic equivalent of a paperscanned versioncopy of athe phytosanitary certificate.certificate Using ePhyto allows countries to exchange information securely and may enable the information to be copied from the ePhyto into your import notification. This process is known as cloning.   

The ePhyto acts as the original certificate, and it is automatically attached to your import notification on IPAFFS.

You shouldwhen contactyou complete your exporterimport to see if the country they are exporting from uses ePhyto. Read more about ePhyto.notification.

3.

Notify the relevant authorities about your import

If you’re importing high risk or medium risk A plants and plant products, you must use IPAFFS to:

• let APHA (in England and Wales) or SASA (in Scotland) know in advance when your goods will arrive (this is known as ‘pre-notification’)  
• upload any necessary documents - for example, a scanned copy of your phytosanitary certificate and any travel documentation that helps identify your consignment
• read any notifications (after you’ve submitted an import notification) about thewhat documentary, identity and physical checks your goods will need 
• follow the progress of your consignments, using the ‘My Alerts’ section

You must give notice at least:

• 4 working hours before the goods land in Great Britain for air and ‘roll-on-roll-off’ freight
• 1 working day before the goods arrive in Great Britain for all other freight

If you do not give enough notice, your consignment may be delayed.

ForIf you need help with import notifications, you can email planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk, or call 0300 1000 313.

ePhyto andelectronic IPAFFS

certificates 

If you’reyou usingare ePhyto,importing you’llplants from the EU into Great Britain, you may be able to use ePhyto. An ePhyto certificate is the electronic equivalent of a paper version of a phytosanitary certificate. Using ePhyto allows countries to exchange information securely and may enable the information to be copied from the ePhyto into your import notification. This process is known as cloning.   

Read more about ePhyto.

You should contact your exporter to see if the country they are exporting from uses ePhyto. If so, you will be able to retrieve your ePhyto and create an import notification on IPAFFS by selecting ‘Clone a certificate’ on your IPAFFS dashboard. 

To create an import notification on IPAFFS using ePhyto, you’llyou will need: 

• to know the country that issued the ePhyto
• the unique ePhyto certificate number, which is provided by your exporter

Products

You do not need to post a copy of a paper phytosanitary certificate to APHA or SASA if you use ePhyto. The ePhyto acts as the original, and it is automatically attached to your import notification on IPAFFS.

Read more about posting a paper copy in the ‘submitting documents after your consignment arrives’ section below.

Importing products made of manymore than one commodity typestype  

If you are importing a product that contains different commodity types with different import requirements, you need to submit separate import notifications on IPAFFS for each commodity type. Commodity types include plant products, high risk food and feed of non-animal origin (HRFNAO), and animal products.

For example, if your product contains HRFNAO and animal products, you need to:   

• submit a CHED.D for the HRFNAO  
• submit a CHED.P for the animal product   

You should include both CHED reference numbers in the commercial documentation uploaded to each import notification. For example, you need to:  

• add the CHED.P reference number to the commercial documentation on the CHED.D notification.  
• add the CHED.D reference number to the commercial documentation on the CHED.P  

For all types of CHED, the reference number should be entered in the field labelled ‘data element (DE) 2/3’ on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS). You should write the CHED reference number in the following format on your customs declaration - GBCHDyyyy.nnnnnnn. For example, the product containing HRFNAO and animal products  would be declared using:   

• document code C678 for the CHED-D, followed by the CHED reference number    
• document code N853 for the CHED-P, followed by the CHED reference number  

If any CHED reference numbers are missing, your products may be held until this is resolved. Find more guidance on how to enter data into CDS

4.

Find out if your consignment needs plant health checks 

All high risk and medium risk A plants and plant products imported from the EU to Great Britain must enter through an airport or a port with a border control post (BCP) that can handle plants or plant products, unless they are entering through a point of entry on the west coast of Great Britain. 

 If you’re importing the goods through an airport, the authorities will carry out any necessary checks before they release the consignment for collection by your transporter.   

If you’re importing the goods through a port, the way to find out if your consignment needs plant health checks will depend on whether your transporter is using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) to clear customs.   

If your transporter is using GVMS, they should use the check if you need to report for an inspection service to find out what they need to do.

If your transporter is not using GVMS, IPAFFS will provide an initial risk assessment telling you if your consignment needs plant health checks when you submit your import notification. If your consignment does need checks, you’ll also receive a text and email message 2 hours before your transporter’s estimated time of arrival in Great Britain. The message will confirm what you need to do.   

If IPAFFS tells you your consignment has not been selected for plant health checks, you should still check for messages until your consignment has cleared the port.port, This is because the authorities may still call you for checks based on their final risk assessment.

Find out the frequency of checks for your goods.

If your consignment is called for plant health checks 

If your consignment is called for plant health checks, APHA (in(England England and Wales) or SASA (in(Scotland) Scotland) will carry out documentary, identity and physical checks to make sure your consignment:  

• includes all required documents   
• contains the plants you have declared   
• is free from pests and diseases  

The checks can take place at either a:  

• BCP - a border inspection facility where goods first arrive  
• control point (CP) - an inland inspection facility   

Check a list of BCPs and CPs for plant importsimports..   

It’s possible to use your premises as a control point. To do this, your premises must be: 

• designated as a control point by Defra 
• authorised as a temporary storage facility where plant health inspections can be carried out  

You can apply for authorisation as either an:  

• authorised consignee temporary storage (ACTS) facility  
• external temporary storage facility (ETSF)

What

Fees happensfor ifplant yourhealth consignmentchecks

Fees failsfor plantdocumentary, healthidentity and physical checks depend on the type of plant material you import.

IfFind allout orthe partfees ofthat yourapply consignmentin failsEngland and Wales for plant health checks,checks.

Find anout inspectorthe willfees advisethat youapply onin whatScotland for plant health checks.  

If you import a consignment of high or medium risk A plants and plant products through the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel, you’ll need to dopay withthe common user charge. Find out more about rates and eligibility for the consignment.common user charge.

UK plant passport

IfYou thewill inspectorneed decidesa thatUK theplant failedpassport goodsfor causeonward amovement riskof tocertain plantgoods health,from theythe may:first place of destination if:

• destroythey’re yourmoved goodsto another professional operator
• askthey’re yousold to returnfinal them

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• they’re moved to theanother EU,one they’llof beyour treatedpremises asthat’s anmore export.than The10 plantmiles healthfrom authoritythe inpremises where the countryconsignment you’rearrived
• the returningphytosanitary status of the goodsconsignment tochanges will- explainfor howexample, toif doit’s this.reconfigured, Readsuch moreas on2 plants previously in separate pots planted in a new pot together

Read how to exportissue plantsUK and plant productspassports to themove EU.regulated plant material in Great Britain.

5.

The PayEU feesplant forpassport is no longer recognised as an official label in Great Britain.

What happens if your consignment fails plant health checks

FeesIf forall documentary,or identitypart andof physicalyour checksconsignment dependfails onplant thehealth typechecks, ofan plantinspector materialwill advise you import.on what you need to do with the consignment.

FindIf out the feesinspector decides that applythe forfailed goods cause a risk to plant healthhealth, checks:they may:

• indestroy Englandyour and Walesgoods
• inask Scotlandyou  to return them

If you importneed ato consignmentreturn ofgoods highto orthe mediumEU, riskthey’ll Abe plantstreated andas plantan productsexport. throughThe theplant Porthealth ofauthority Doverin orthe Eurotunnel,country you’llyou’re needexporting to paywill theexplain commonhow userto charge.do this.

Plant

Read healthmore controls:on mediumhow riskto Bexport goods

Forplants mediumand risk B plant and products you only need to followthe step 2. Get a phytosanitary certificate from your EU exporterEU..

SendSubmit documents after your consignment arrives

ForIf highyou’re risk,importing mediumhigh risk A or medium risk A or B plants or plant products,products youand must post the original phytosanitary certificate if it is a paper copycopy, you must post it to APHA (in(England England and Wales) or SASA (in(Scotland) Scotland). This must be within 3 days of the consignment reaching Great Britain.

For consignments landing at Heathrow or Gatwick, send the certificate to:

For consignments arriving anywhere else in England and Wales, send the certificate to:

For consignments arriving in Scotland, send the certificate to:

For wood, wood products and bark, you’ll need to provide the Forestry Commission with original phytosanitary certificates.certificates This must be within 3 days (or as soon as possible) of the consignment arriving in Great Britain.

Your local forestry inspector will agree with you which address you need to send the phytosanitary certificate to.

View contact details for inspectors at the main points of entry into Great BritainBritain..

Read more on how to import timber, wood products or barkbark..

CheckImporting iffrom younon-EU needcountries ato UKGreat plantBritain passportthrough forthe onward movementEU

YouIf willyou needimport a UK plant passport for onward movement of certain goods from thea firstnon-EU placecountry ofto destinationGreat if:

• they’reBritain movedthrough tothe anotherEU, professionalyour operator
• they’regoods soldmay tobe finaltreated usersas (thosean buyingEU forimport. personalWhile use)in underthe aEU, distancethey contractmust -have:
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Thecannot EUmeet plantthe passportimport isrequirements nofor longerscientifically recognisedjustified asreasons.

Check anif officialyour labelgoods inare Great Britain.prohibited.

Customs declaration

IPAFFSIt willmay providebe youpossible with the reference number you need to beginimport yourprohibited customsgoods declaration.into AfterGreat youBritain completewith anda submitscientific yourauthorisation importif notification,they youmeet will be able to copy the customsqualifying declaration reference from IPAFFS and begin your customs declaration.criteria.

ContactRead HMRCmore ifabout youmoving needspecified helpplants, withplant yourpests, customspathogens declaration.and soil.

Importing fromgoods non-EUwith countries,wood throughpackaging the EU, to Great Britainmaterial

If you import any goods fromusing awood non-EUpackaging countrymaterial to(WPM), Greator Britainsupply throughWPM theto EU,businesses, yourthe goodsWPM maymust bemeet treatedthe asISPM an15 EUinternational import.standard.

Importing Whileendangered inand theartificially EU,propagated theyplants

You must have:

• enteredapply intofor freea circulation
• passedpermit EUto import plants and plant healthproducts checks
• beenof issuedspecies withlisted aby phytosanitarythe certificateConvention fromon anInternational EUTrade memberin state,Endangered ifSpecies applicable

Theyof willWild beFauna treatedand asFlora a(CITES). non-EUThis countryincludes importartificially ifpropagated theyplants didlisted noton enterCITES.

Use intoSpecies+ freeto circulationfind andout passif your plant healthor checksplant inproduct thecomes EU.from Reada aboutspecies howon tothe CITES list.

You importcan plantsemail andthe APHA CITES team plantat productswildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk fromif non-EUyou countries.need more information.

ImportingComplaints organicand goodsappeals

IfYou you’recan importingcomplain organicor products,appeal youif mustyou’re follownot thesatisfied ruleswith forthe importingservice organicyou food,receive feedfrom and seed to Great BritainAPHA.

Get helpContact

For more information on plant imports:

• imports in England and Wales, email APHA at planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk, or phone 0300 1000 313
• 313.

  For contact details and more information on plant imports in Scotland, visit the Scottish government’s plant health guidance

.

Complaints

Help andwith appeals

your customs declaration

YouIPAFFS canwill complainprovide oryou appealwith ifthe you’rereference notnumber satisfiedyou withneed theto servicebegin your customs declaration. After completing and submitting your import notification, you receivewill be able to copy the customs declaration reference from APHAIPAFFS. and begin your customs declaration.

If you need help with your customs declaration, contact HMRC.