The importation of particular plants and plant products from certain third countries (countries outside of the European Union) is prohibited.

In general, all plants and some categories of plant produce that are permitted to enter Northern Ireland from third countries must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

This confirms that the plants or plant produce to which it relates have been officially inspected in the country of origin (or country of dispatch), comply with statutory requirements for entry into the UK and are free from quarantine pests and diseases.

Any plants that are imported directly into Northern Ireland from outside of the EU may only enter via Belfast Port, Larne Port or Warrenpoint Port and must comply with all relevant Plant Health legislation.

Read more about New Plant Health Regulation.

Businesses or individuals wishing to import plants from countries outside of the EU must register with DAERA as a Professional Operator or update their existing registration to include their new activity as an importer. To register, you should use the forms available on the Registration as Professional Operator and application to become Registered Authorised Professional Operator page or contact Plant Health Inspection Branch directly.

At importation, DAERA Plant Health Inspectors carry out documentary and identity checks on plants and controlled plant products from non EU countries. There is a charge for these inspections. Documentary checks are always charged, while additional identity checks and plant health inspections are completed at set frequencies according to Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 and may be charged at reduced inspection fees depending on the category of plant material and the country of origin.

Imports of plants and controlled plant products must be notified to DAERA no less than one working day in advance of arrival (four working hrs if arriving by air). Different rules apply for importing potatoes or wood and bark products. Notification must be given by completing a CHED-PP part 1 on TRACES.NT.

This must be done by the person responsible for the consignment, which should be the importer or an agent with an NI or EU address. You should upload a scanned colour copy of the accompanying phytosanitary certificate (including all attached pages) and ensure that all details entered on TRACES NT are correct. You should also include the registration number of the vehicle carrying the goods and/or the container number, as applicable. This will facilitate smooth movement of all consignments.

Read more information about the TRACES NT system.

See guidance notes for registering on TRACES NT and creating a CHED PP

A Certificate of Conformity is required for certain fruit and vegetable produce which is subject to a 'Specific Marketing Standard' (SMS) before it is released from the port.

Any business can get authorised to use the NIPHL scheme to move the following goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland:

• plants and seeds for planting
• seed potatoes
• used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles (UAFM)

Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) scheme

Move plants and seeds for planting using the NIPHL scheme
How growers and traders can use Northern Ireland plant health labels to move plants and seeds for planting from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, including the requirements for the business in Northern Ireland.

Move seed potatoes using the NIPHL scheme
How growers and traders can use Northern Ireland plant health labels (NIPHLs) to move seed potatoes from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, including the requirements for the business in Northern Ireland.

Move used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles using the NIPHL scheme
How traders can move used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles to Northern Ireland under the NIPHL scheme, if the goods are intended to stay in Northern Ireland. 

Regulated plants for planting under a Northern Ireland Plant Health label
Information on plants for planting moving from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland under a Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL).

Apply to use Northern Ireland Plant Health labels
Get authorisation to use Northern Ireland plant health labels (NIPHL) and see the list of regulated plants for planting.

If you import certain tree and woody plant genera from EU countries and Switzerland to Northern Ireland there are certain notification requirements you must make.

As of 1st of December 2018, there is a notification requirement for certain tree species and woody plant species imported directly from countries within the European Union. These are tree species within the genera of:

• Castanea (Sweet Chestnut)
• Fraxinus (Ash)
• Pinus (Pine)
• Platanus (Plane)
• Prunus (e.g. Cherry
• Plum, Laurel)
• Quercus (Oak)
• Ulmus (Elm)

As of the 28th of March 2019, Olea (Olive) has also been added to this list as it is an important host species for the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. This requirement also applies to imports from Switzerland.

It is important to note that Northern Ireland has Protected Zone status for certain pests and diseases associated with many of these genera and relevant passporting requirements apply.

Landings of plants for planting of the relevant genera must be notified to DAERA prior to or up to 4 days after landing in Northern Ireland using the form found below.

Notification form for import of trees from the EU

Last updated: 26 January 2026

When you export regulated plants and plant products from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland to other countries, you need to:

• check if your plants need a phytosanitary certificate by contacting the plant health authority in the destination country (and if you cannot find details on the IPPC website or are unsure of the requirements, contact your UK plant health authority or inspector if you know them)
• check if your plants need laboratory testing of samples to make sure they’re free from pests and diseases or for growing season inspections - contact your local plant health inspector
• apply for a phytosanitary certificate or electronic equivalent (ePhyto) from the relevant UK plant health authority before export
• register as a professional operator, if you have not already done so

If you export as a private citizen (you are not registered as a company or sole trader), please contact APHA for information on the process of how you can apply. Email planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk.

UK plant health authorities

You can contact the UK’s plant health authorities to check if plants and plant products you intend to export need to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

The plant authority in Northern Ireland is the plant and tree health department in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Contact the DAERA Plant Health Inspection Branch:

Telephone: 0300 200 7847

Email: planthealth@daera-ni.gov.uk

Apply for a phytosanitary certificate

You need a phytosanitary certificate to export or move some plants and plant products. Most phytosanitary certificates are in a paper format. Electronic (ePhyto) certificates are available for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

You may need a phytosanitary certificate if you’re exporting:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• seeds
• grain
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm and forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes
• wood and wood products

All these goods must be inspected before you can get a phytosanitary certificate.

Read Forestry Commission guidance if you want to export wood, wood products and bark.

Use the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service to apply for phytosanitary and ePhyto certificates.

You can use the service for:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• grain
• seeds
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm or forestry machinery or vehicles that have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

If you’re exporting certain fruits and vegetables, you may need a certificate of conformity as well as a phytosanitary certificate.

You apply a different way to export plants from Scotland and Northern Ireland. Contact the plant health authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland for more information.

If you use an ePhyto certificate for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

You will receive an email when your ePhyto certificate is issued. This is to confirm that APHA has sent your certificate to the relevant people and organisations.

You will be able to see a copy of the certifcate that was sent. You do not need to print or email this copy. The original digital certificate will automatically be made available to DAERA.

Read more about ePhyto certificates on the Plant Health Portal.

Apply for a re-forwarding phytosanitary certificate to re-export goods

Re-export (also known as re-forwarding) is when goods are imported into a country and then exported to another country.

If you’ve imported goods to Great Britain and then want to move them to a different country, it may be possible to apply for a re-forwarding certificate.

Plant health inspectors will only be able to issue a re-forwarding certificate if they can be confident that the goods meet the destination country’s import requirements.

If you apply for a re-forwarding certificate, the inspector will decide whether a further inspection is needed. You may need a further inspection if the:

• destination country’s rules say you must
• goods have been exposed to a risk of infestation or contamination after being imported

It may be that the destination country has certain import requirements that include testing or growing season inspections. You should check this before you import the goods into Great Britain, as the phytosanitary certificate you use to import the goods will need to include this information if you wish to forward them on. This original phytosanitary certificate, or certified copies, will need to accompany the goods when they are re-exported.

You can apply for a re-forwarding certificate using the plant health export service, Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service.

Register and apply with online export services

If you’re exporting from England or Wales, you must register as a professional operator and apply for a phytosanitary certificate with:

• apply for plant export certificates and inspections service for plant products, plant produce, grain, seeds, bulbs, potatoes and used agricultural or forestry machinery with APHA
• the timber and wood export certificates service for wood and wood products with the Forestry Commission

If you’re based in England or Wales, contact your local APHA inspector if you want to do a paper-based application form.

If you do not know your local APHA inspector, contact APHA plant health by:

• telephone on 0300 1000 313
• email at planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk

They will arrange for the inspector to contact you.

There is an extra charge of £14.86 for paper-based applications.

You apply a different way to export plants from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Exporting wood, wood products or isolated bark

If you export certain types of regulated wood, wood products and bark from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), you’ll need to register as a professional operator and then apply for phytosanitary certificates.

Read more about the import and export of wood and bark.

Other export requirements for plants and wood

Your goods may also be subject to other requirements or controls. Further information:

• marketing standards for fruit and vegetables
• plant propagation and seed marketing licensing
• convention on international trade of endangered species (CITES) for CITES-listed species - use the Species+ tool to search for your plant referring to the Annex listings which reflect current UK listings
• wood packaging material (WPM) - ISPM 15 requirements

Fees

The following fees apply to exports from England and Wales to the EU and non-EU countries. For fees in Scotland please contact the Scottish government.

Inspection costs

For each inspection you’ll be charged a minimum of 30 minutes, which costs £127.60.

After that you’ll pay £63.80 for every 15 minutes of an inspector’s time spent on:

• carrying out the inspection on site
• associated on site activities

You’ll have to pay in full for every 15 minutes, even if it takes less time. For example, if it takes the inspector 42 minutes to do everything you will pay for 45 minutes.

The time it takes for the inspector to travel to and from the site to conduct the inspection is already included in the fees.

Certificate and laboratory costs

A phytosanitary certificate costs £25.52.

If you ask for an amendment to your phytosanitary certificate, you’ll pay £15.76.

You’ll pay £33.56 for each sample examined by a laboratory.

Application costs

If you submit an export certification application in paper form, rather than using the online eDomero system, you’ll pay an extra fee of £15.76.

Reduced fees

You can apply for plant health export services at concessionary rates. Apply online or fill in the PHE3 form and send it to APHA before you apply for a phytosanitary certificate. The concessionary rate is for the first £1,500 (full price value) of APHA services in a financial year if any of the following apply:

• you’re exporting VAT-exempt goods
• you’re not registered for VAT and do not need to be registered in that financial year
• your certified exports were worth less than £5,000 in the last financial year

Exporting from Great Britain to the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein

All regulated plants and plant products exported from England, Scotland or Wales are subject to import controls.

This could include documentary, identity and physical checks at the EU border.

Regulated plants and plant products include:

• all plants for planting
• root and tubercle vegetables
• some common fruits other than fruit preserved by deep freezing
• cut flowers
• seeds, and other plant or forest reproductive material
• leafy vegetables other than vegetables preserved by deep freezing
• some wood and wood products
• used farm or forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

Find out about exporting wood, wood products, bark and wood packaging material.

Read how to apply for plant breeders’ rights and market plant reproductive material, seeds and other propagating material.

Moving plants including used agricultural and forestry machinery, from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

To move plants and seeds for planting, or used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland you must either:

• apply a Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) to the consignment where goods are destined to remain in Northern Ireland
• apply for a phytosanitary certificate from the relevant UK plant health authority (you can find out how in the UK plant health authorities section at the top of this page)

Seed potatoes can only be moved to Northern Ireland from Great Britain using a NIPHL. You can read the guidance on moving seed potatoes on GOV.UK.

In both cases you must register as a professional operator, if you have not already done so and the business (or their agent) receiving the goods in Northern Ireland must notify DAERA with details of the consignment by submitting a Common Health Entry Document (CHED-PP) on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES NT).

Sending small quantities from Great Britain to individuals in Northern Ireland

You can send small amounts of plant products in parcels to the final consumer in Northern Ireland. You will still need a phytosanitary certificate.

You must clearly label parcels as containing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods. For example, with a green label that includes the wording ‘SPS’.

Border control posts (BCPs) in the EU

Your goods will need to be exported to an EU BCP, approved to handle plants and plant products in the EU.

Exempt plants and plant products

Exempt plants and plant products do not need plant health controls and so will not be subject to import controls at EU countries or Northern Ireland. You do not need a phytosanitary certificate to export these exempt goods.

These plants and plant products are exempt:

• pineapple
• coconut
• durian
• bananas
• grain
• plant products (such as fruit and vegetables) that have been processed and packaged to the point that they no longer pose a biosecurity risk composite products like nut and seed butters containing processed fruit or vegetables

Movement of high-risk and prohibited plants

You cannot export some high-risk and prohibited goods from Great Britain to the EU and Northern Ireland.

These fall into 2 categories:

• high-risk plants and plant products
• prohibited plants and plant products

High-risk plants

High-risk plants and plant products cannot enter the EU and Northern Ireland, until a full risk assessment is conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The following genera of plants for planting from Great Britain are prohibited:

• Acacia
• Albizia
• Annona
• Bauhinia
• Caesalpinia
• Cassia
• Castanea
• Diospyros
• Ficus carica
• Fraxinus
• Hamamelis
• Jasminum
• Juglans
• Lonicera
• Nerium
• Persea
• Robinia
• Ulmus

The prohibition does not apply to seeds, fruits, leaves, tissue culture material and naturally or artificially dwarfed woody plants of these genera.

You must consult your local plant health and seeds inspector if you wish to move any of the following plants for planting from Great Britain, as some of the species within these genera have now been approved to move:

• Acer
• Alnus
• Berberis
• Betula
• Cornus
• Corylus
• Crataegus
• Fagus
• Ligustrum
• Malus
• Populus
• Prunus
• Quercus
• Salix
• Sorbus
• Taxus
• Tilia

High-risk plant products

These plant products are prohibited:

• plants of Ullucus tuberosus
• fruits of Momordica from countries where Thrips palmi is present and effective mitigation measures are not in place

How to apply for an exemption from the high-risk prohibition

An application will need to be submitted by Defra to the European Commission for every high-risk plant. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will then assess the information provided by Defra and complete a full risk assessment on the plant or plant product.

If the risk assessment allows the trade, the plant or plant product will be removed from the high risk list. But it may still need specific import requirements, including phytosanitary certification.

EFSA has set out the information and format required to submit an application.

Prohibited plants and plant products

These plants and plant products are prohibited for movement from Great Britain to the EU and Northern Ireland. This includes:

• isolated bark of Castanea
• plants of Vitis, other than fruits
• plants of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus, and their hybrids, other than fruits and seeds
• tubers of Solanum tuberosum, seed potatoes (these can now move to Northern Ireland under the NI plant health label scheme)
• plants for planting of stolon - or tuber-forming species of Solanum, and their hybrids
• soil as such consisting in part of solid organic substances
• growing medium as such, other than soil, consisting in whole or in part of solid organic substances, other than that composed entirely of peat or fibre of Cocos nucifera, previously not used for growing of plants or for any agricultural purposes

Note: plants for planting moving to Northern Ireland under the NIPHL scheme can have soil or growing media attached, provided this is in compliance with NI’s requirements. If you are unsure of requirements, speak to your local inspector.

You can find out how to contact your UK plant health authority on the top of this page under the ‘UK plant health authorities’ section.

EU Protected Zones of fireblight

Plants and live pollen for pollination of the following species (excluding their fruit and seeds) are also prohibited when exporting to EU Protected Zones of fireblight (Erwinia amylovora):

• Amelanchier
• Chaenomeles
• Cotoneaster
• Crataegus
• Cydonia
• Eriobotrya
• Malus
• Mespilus
• Photinia davidiana
• Pyracantha
• Pyrus
• Sorbus

How to export prohibited plants and soil

You can only send prohibited plants or soil to someone who has a scientific licence to receive them in the EU. They will have a ‘letter of authority’ with their licence.

Follow these steps to export prohibited material to EU countries:

1. Ask the recipient for a copy of their letter of authority.
2. Send to APHA to be endorsed.
3. Attach the letter of authority to the outside of all packages before you send them. You should also include copies of the letter of authority inside the packaging.
4. Store prohibited the plants or soil in 3 layers of packaging - at least 1 of the layers must be escape and shatter-proof.

If the recipient tells you that you do not need a letter of authority, ask them to show you official confirmation of this from their plant health authority. Send this confirmation to:

• APHA for England and Wales
• SASA for Scotland
• DAERA for Northern Ireland

Do not send your material until you have got confirmation from the recipient’s plant health authority and the relevant competent authority.

Plant health exports audited trader scheme (PHEATS)

If you move ware potatoes, fruit, vegetables or cut flowers from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland, you may be eligible for the plant health exports audited trader scheme (PHEATS).

This means you’ll be able to do your own inspections and apply for phytosanitary certificates to be issued.

Find out how to apply and register for the scheme on the plant health portal.

Under the PHEATS scheme, you’ll have to pay for:

• an initial site visit to include training, assessment and authorisation - £313.24 per authorisation
• an auditing / monitoring fee - £178.92 per audit
• the issue of a certificate - £25.52 per phytosanitary certificate

Movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain

Qualifying Northern Ireland goods (QNIGs) can continue to move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain in the same way as they did before 1 January 2021.

QNIGs are goods:

• in free circulation in Northern Ireland - on the basis that they are not under customs supervision (except when that supervision arises from from the goods being taken out of Northern Ireland or the EU), or
• which have undergone processing operations in Northern Ireland under the inward processing procedure, and only incorporate inputs which were in free circulation in the UK

This means that if you are an operator based in Great Britain and receive a consignment of plants or plant products from Northern Ireland which are QNIGs and subject to plant passport requirements, they will continue to arrive at your premises with an EU plant passport as they do now.

As these are QNIGs you do not need to routinely replace this EU plant passport with a UK plant passport, and the goods may be moved on under their EU plant passport unless:

• you split the consignment and the new ‘units’ (these may be trolleys, pallets, boxes, bags or similar) no longer have a plant passport attached to them, or
• you choose to replace the plant passport (for example, to include your supplier’s details for business purposes)

If either apply, a UK plant passport could be issued without a full examination of the plants taking place before onward movement. This is in line with current guidance on when to replace a plant passport. You must keep records of any changes made.

If you replace a plant passport on a QNIG you must put the code ‘GB(NI)’ in Part E of that replacement UK plant passport, to help maintain their identity as QNIGs.

This is to aid monitoring of compliance with plant passporting requirements, including the specific provisions for QNIGs.

This will help ensure that it is easily visible whether a good has originated outside of Great Britain’s phytosanitary zone, yet may not have undergone full third country checks, which will be important for tracing purposes in the event of a pest or disease is found.

If the phytosanitary status of your consignment changes, for example because traceability has not been maintained, there is a pest or disease issue with the consignment or the plants have been ‘grown on’, then a full examination will need to be carried out on the plants.

Once confirmed they are fully aligned with GB plant health standards, a standard UK plant passport with Part E left blank could be issued.

Read guidance on when plants have been ‘grown-on’.

Returned wood, plants and plant products

Plants and plant product consignments rejected at EU BCPs can re-enter Great Britain through any point of entry.

You must submit an import pre-notification using the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to notify APHA for rejected plants and plant products returning to England or Wales.

‘Pre-notification’ means giving advance notice to the responsible authority for goods that arrive in Great Britain.

You must give notice:

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

For rejected plants and plant products returning to Scotland go to the SASA.

For wood and wood products returning to Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales) you’ll need to notify the Forestry Commission.

You must include a copy of the original phytosanitary certificate with pre-notification.

If your consignment was exported without a phytosanitary certificate, before returning your goods please contact:

• APHA for plants and plant products in England and Wales on 0300 1000 313
• SASA for plants and plant products in Scotland on 0131 244 8890
• Forestry Commission for wood and wood products in Great Britain on 0300 067 5155

APHA, SASA and the Forestry Commission will assess this information to decide the conditions of import and if the consignment needs further checks on entry to Great Britain.

If further checks are needed someone from FC, APHA or SASA in Scotland will contact you.

Exporting from the UK to non-EU countries

If you export regulated plants and plant products from the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to non-EU countries, you must follow the import regulations in the country you’re exporting to.

Get help researching your export market.

Contact APHA for advice on what the import regulations and rules are in the country you’re exporting to.

Check the destination country profile page of the International Plant Protection Convention’s website to find out if you need a phytosanitary certificate.

Make sure you ask to receive an official document to explain the rules in that country and how to comply. This will help UK inspectors to prepare your export correctly.

You may need a phytosanitary certificate if you’re exporting:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• seeds
• grain
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm and forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes
• wood and wood products

Applying for a phytosanitary certificate

You can use the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service for:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• grain
• seeds
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm and forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

If you’re exporting certain fruits and vegetables, you may need a certificate of conformity as well as a phytosanitary certificate.

You apply a different way to export plants from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you’re a member of the Plant Health Propagation Scheme or the Seed Potato Classification Scheme, you may not need an inspection. Contact APHA to find out.

Exporting grain from the UK to non-EU countries

You may need a phytosanitary certificate to export grain if there has been no recent trade in grain to the country you are exporting to. Check the grain standard operating protocol (GSOP) before sending consignments.

Before you can apply for a phytosanitary certificate to export grain, you need to:

-  apply for certification if you’re a qualified authorised trade inspector (ATI)

• email grainexports@apha.gov.uk to get a licence if you’re not an ATI

Wood packaging material

If you use wood packaging material to export goods to other countries, check your solid wood packaging meets requirements.

Plants and plant products may move freely within the European Single Market, without inspections at national borders.

All plants for planting and some plant products require a plant passport to facilitate their movement. Where required, a passport is needed both for movements within and between member states, and additional requirements apply for movements into and within EU Protected Zones.

What are plant passports?

Plant passports are a guarantee that the material meets the plant health requirements for freedom from ‘quarantine’ organisms.

Plant passports may only be issued by growers who are registered and authorised for the purpose. Authorisation is granted on the basis of inspections of plants, premises and records by a Plant Health Inspection Branch Inspector.

Read a guide to plant passports from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

For further information on the Plant Passporting system, contact DAERA on either Tel: 0300 200 7847 or Email: planthealth@daera-ni.gov.uk.
 

If you are travelling in the EU, you can bring live plants and plant products (such as cut flowers, fruit or vegetables) into Northern Ireland without any documentary or physical checks, as long as they have been grown in an EU country, are free from pests or diseases and are for your own personal use.

However, you are advised to retain any receipt(s) and/or pot label(s) relating to plant purchases made in the EU, for movement into NI. In this context, “EU” includes the 27 member countries plus Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

Bringing some plants and plant products into Northern Ireland from areas within the EU is restricted because of the Northern Ireland ‘Protected Zone’ status against a range of pest and diseases.

See a list of pests and diseases for which NI has PZ status.

There is no personal allowance for plants in personal baggage when entering Northern Ireland from a non-EU (“third”) country. If you intend to bring plants or plant products (including cut flowers) with you into Northern Ireland from a non-EU country (including England, Scotland or Wales), then they must be accompanied by a valid phytosanitary (plant health) certificate, attesting that they are free from specific pests and diseases.

An exemption exists for fruits of banana, coconut, durian, date and pineapple, which do not require a phytosanitary certificate for importation from outside the EU.

Since April 2022, phytosanitary certificates can only be issued for plants grown and inspected on registered, professional premises until their time of sale / export.

Hence, private individuals are no longer eligible to apply for a phytosanitary certificate to cover such plant movements and cannot legally bring these items with them from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.

The above rules also apply if you want to order live “plants for planting” (including seeds, bulbs, tubers and corms) online or have them sent by mail.

Read a summary of personal food import restrictions

DAERA inspectors at ‘points of entry’ (ports and airports) are authorised to seize any materials deemed to be a potential risk to plant health, at their discretion.

There are certain requirements for importing and exporting wood and bark for Northern Ireland, this includes the wood packing for any other goods that are transported inside or outside the European Union (EU).

The requirements help to prevent the spread of tree damaging pests and diseases.

• Wood packaging material import requirements into Northern Ireland
• Flowchart to determine import requirements for wood packaging material into Northern Ireland
• Plant Health Checks of Wood Packaging Material from China and Belarus Implementation of Decision (EU) 2018/1137
• Wood and bark imports from countries outside the EU requiring notification

You can also read a guide to importation and export of wood and wood products for Northern Ireland.

Forms - Wood and Bark

• Registration as Professional Operator and Application to become Registered Authorised Professional Operator 
• Application for Phytosanitary Certificate - Wood and Bark
• Consignment of notification of wood packaging material from China and Belarus implementation of decision (EU) 2018/1137

Wood and Bark Import Inspection Fees

Imports of wood or bark from countries outside the EU may be charged for documentary, identity or plant health checks. Imports must be notified to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) using TRACES NT.

Read more about charging procedures for documentary, identity and plant health checks for imported wood and bark.

Exports of certain plants and plant products to third countries may be prohibited by the importing country.

Where exports are permitted, the regulated plants or plant products must normally be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

This confirms that the regulated plants or plant products to which it relates have

• been officially inspected in the country of origin (or country of dispatch)
• comply with statutory requirements for entry into the importing country
• are free from quarantine pests and diseases

It is the responsibility of the individual wishing to export the plant or plant-related products to check with the importing (receiving) country what statutory requirements must be met to allow entry to that particular country. The importing country may issue you with an import permit which will list all the requirements clearly.

As it may be necessary to carry out certain checks before issuing a phytosanitary certificate, you should submit an application at the earliest opportunity if considering an export.

Phytosanitary Export Certificate Online (PECOL)

PECOL is the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA's) online application system for phytosanitary certificates which replaces the older paper-based application method. DAERA will aim to provide the phytosanitary certificate within 10 working days of the online application being submitted.

If an inspection is not required, the certificate can be collected from the DAERA Direct office nominated on the application, after receiving email notification from DAERA. As this email contains the unique reference number for your phytosanitary certificate, you or a representative of your business must bring a copy of this email with you for verification purposes. This may be printed or on an electronic device.

Phytosanitary certificates, which are valid for 14 days, can also be posted if this has been requested at application.

To apply for a phytosanitary certificate it is essential to have a DAERA issued business ID number. If you do not already have a business ID number then please contact your local DAERA Direct Office to request one.

Get a Phytosanitary Certificate

PECOL instructional videos

Before you make an application you may want to watch the PECOL video, which guides you through the process for submitting an application. View the PECOL instructional video.

The importation of particular plants and plant products from certain third countries (countries outside of the European Union) is prohibited.

In general, all plants and some categories of plant produce that are permitted to enter Northern Ireland from third countries must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

This confirms that the plants or plant produce to which it relates have been officially inspected in the country of origin (or country of dispatch), comply with statutory requirements for entry into the UK and are free from quarantine pests and diseases.

Any plants that are imported directly into Northern Ireland from outside of the EU may only enter via Belfast Port, Larne Port or Warrenpoint Port and must comply with all relevant Plant Health legislation.

Read more about New Plant Health Regulation.

Businesses or individuals wishing to import plants from countries outside of the EU must register with DAERA as a Professional Operator or update their existing registration to include their new activity as an importer. To register, you should use the forms available on the Registration as Professional Operator and application to become Registered Authorised Professional Operator page or contact Plant Health Inspection Branch directly.

At importation, DAERA Plant Health Inspectors carry out documentary and identity checks on plants and controlled plant products from non EU countries. There is a charge for these inspections. Documentary checks are always charged, while additional identity checks and plant health inspections are completed at set frequencies according to Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2389 and may be charged at reduced inspection fees depending on the category of plant material and the country of origin.

Imports of plants and controlled plant products must be notified to DAERA no less than one working day in advance of arrival (four working hrs if arriving by air). Different rules apply for importing potatoes or wood and bark products. Notification must be given by completing a CHED-PP part 1 on TRACES.NT.

This must be done by the person responsible for the consignment, which should be the importer or an agent with an NI or EU address. You should upload a scanned colour copy of the accompanying phytosanitary certificate (including all attached pages) and ensure that all details entered on TRACES NT are correct. You should also include the registration number of the vehicle carrying the goods and/or the container number, as applicable. This will facilitate smooth movement of all consignments.

Read more information about the TRACES NT system.

See guidance notes for registering on TRACES NT and creating a CHED PP

A Certificate of Conformity is required for certain fruit and vegetable produce which is subject to a 'Specific Marketing Standard' (SMS) before it is released from the port.

Any business can get authorised to use the NIPHL scheme to move the following goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland:

• plants and seeds for planting
• seed potatoes
• used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles (UAFM)

Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) scheme

Move plants and seeds for planting using the NIPHL scheme
How growers and traders can use Northern Ireland plant health labels to move plants and seeds for planting from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, including the requirements for the business in Northern Ireland.

Move seed potatoes using the NIPHL scheme
How growers and traders can use Northern Ireland plant health labels (NIPHLs) to move seed potatoes from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, including the requirements for the business in Northern Ireland.

Move used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles using the NIPHL scheme
How traders can move used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles to Northern Ireland under the NIPHL scheme, if the goods are intended to stay in Northern Ireland. 

Regulated plants for planting under a Northern Ireland Plant Health label
Information on plants for planting moving from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland under a Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL).

Apply to use Northern Ireland Plant Health labels
Get authorisation to use Northern Ireland plant health labels (NIPHL) and see the list of regulated plants for planting.

If you import certain tree and woody plant genera from EU countries and Switzerland to Northern Ireland there are certain notification requirements you must make.

As of 1st of December 2018, there is a notification requirement for certain tree species and woody plant species imported directly from countries within the European Union. These are tree species within the genera of:

• Castanea (Sweet Chestnut)
• Fraxinus (Ash)
• Pinus (Pine)
• Platanus (Plane)
• Prunus (e.g. Cherry
• Plum, Laurel)
• Quercus (Oak)
• Ulmus (Elm)

As of the 28th of March 2019, Olea (Olive) has also been added to this list as it is an important host species for the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa. This requirement also applies to imports from Switzerland.

It is important to note that Northern Ireland has Protected Zone status for certain pests and diseases associated with many of these genera and relevant passporting requirements apply.

Landings of plants for planting of the relevant genera must be notified to DAERA prior to or up to 4 days after landing in Northern Ireland using the form found below.

Notification form for import of trees from the EU

Last updated: 26 January 2026

When you export regulated plants and plant products from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland to other countries, you need to:

• check if your plants need a phytosanitary certificate by contacting the plant health authority in the destination country (and if you cannot find details on the IPPC website or are unsure of the requirements, contact your UK plant health authority or inspector if you know them)
• check if your plants need laboratory testing of samples to make sure they’re free from pests and diseases or for growing season inspections - contact your local plant health inspector
• apply for a phytosanitary certificate or electronic equivalent (ePhyto) from the relevant UK plant health authority before export
• register as a professional operator, if you have not already done so

If you export as a private citizen (you are not registered as a company or sole trader), please contact APHA for information on the process of how you can apply. Email planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk.

UK plant health authorities

You can contact the UK’s plant health authorities to check if plants and plant products you intend to export need to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

The plant authority in Northern Ireland is the plant and tree health department in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Contact the DAERA Plant Health Inspection Branch:

Telephone: 0300 200 7847

Email: planthealth@daera-ni.gov.uk

Apply for a phytosanitary certificate

You need a phytosanitary certificate to export or move some plants and plant products. Most phytosanitary certificates are in a paper format. Electronic (ePhyto) certificates are available for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

You may need a phytosanitary certificate if you’re exporting:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• seeds
• grain
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm and forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes
• wood and wood products

All these goods must be inspected before you can get a phytosanitary certificate.

Read Forestry Commission guidance if you want to export wood, wood products and bark.

Use the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service to apply for phytosanitary and ePhyto certificates.

You can use the service for:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• grain
• seeds
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm or forestry machinery or vehicles that have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

If you’re exporting certain fruits and vegetables, you may need a certificate of conformity as well as a phytosanitary certificate.

You apply a different way to export plants from Scotland and Northern Ireland. Contact the plant health authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland for more information.

If you use an ePhyto certificate for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

You will receive an email when your ePhyto certificate is issued. This is to confirm that APHA has sent your certificate to the relevant people and organisations.

You will be able to see a copy of the certifcate that was sent. You do not need to print or email this copy. The original digital certificate will automatically be made available to DAERA.

Read more about ePhyto certificates on the Plant Health Portal.

Apply for a re-forwarding phytosanitary certificate to re-export goods

Re-export (also known as re-forwarding) is when goods are imported into a country and then exported to another country.

If you’ve imported goods to Great Britain and then want to move them to a different country, it may be possible to apply for a re-forwarding certificate.

Plant health inspectors will only be able to issue a re-forwarding certificate if they can be confident that the goods meet the destination country’s import requirements.

If you apply for a re-forwarding certificate, the inspector will decide whether a further inspection is needed. You may need a further inspection if the:

• destination country’s rules say you must
• goods have been exposed to a risk of infestation or contamination after being imported

It may be that the destination country has certain import requirements that include testing or growing season inspections. You should check this before you import the goods into Great Britain, as the phytosanitary certificate you use to import the goods will need to include this information if you wish to forward them on. This original phytosanitary certificate, or certified copies, will need to accompany the goods when they are re-exported.

You can apply for a re-forwarding certificate using the plant health export service, Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service.

Register and apply with online export services

If you’re exporting from England or Wales, you must register as a professional operator and apply for a phytosanitary certificate with:

• apply for plant export certificates and inspections service for plant products, plant produce, grain, seeds, bulbs, potatoes and used agricultural or forestry machinery with APHA
• the timber and wood export certificates service for wood and wood products with the Forestry Commission

If you’re based in England or Wales, contact your local APHA inspector if you want to do a paper-based application form.

If you do not know your local APHA inspector, contact APHA plant health by:

• telephone on 0300 1000 313
• email at planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk

They will arrange for the inspector to contact you.

There is an extra charge of £14.86 for paper-based applications.

You apply a different way to export plants from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Exporting wood, wood products or isolated bark

If you export certain types of regulated wood, wood products and bark from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), you’ll need to register as a professional operator and then apply for phytosanitary certificates.

Read more about the import and export of wood and bark.

Other export requirements for plants and wood

Your goods may also be subject to other requirements or controls. Further information:

• marketing standards for fruit and vegetables
• plant propagation and seed marketing licensing
• convention on international trade of endangered species (CITES) for CITES-listed species - use the Species+ tool to search for your plant referring to the Annex listings which reflect current UK listings
• wood packaging material (WPM) - ISPM 15 requirements

Fees

The following fees apply to exports from England and Wales to the EU and non-EU countries. For fees in Scotland please contact the Scottish government.

Inspection costs

For each inspection you’ll be charged a minimum of 30 minutes, which costs £127.60.

After that you’ll pay £63.80 for every 15 minutes of an inspector’s time spent on:

• carrying out the inspection on site
• associated on site activities

You’ll have to pay in full for every 15 minutes, even if it takes less time. For example, if it takes the inspector 42 minutes to do everything you will pay for 45 minutes.

The time it takes for the inspector to travel to and from the site to conduct the inspection is already included in the fees.

Certificate and laboratory costs

A phytosanitary certificate costs £25.52.

If you ask for an amendment to your phytosanitary certificate, you’ll pay £15.76.

You’ll pay £33.56 for each sample examined by a laboratory.

Application costs

If you submit an export certification application in paper form, rather than using the online eDomero system, you’ll pay an extra fee of £15.76.

Reduced fees

You can apply for plant health export services at concessionary rates. Apply online or fill in the PHE3 form and send it to APHA before you apply for a phytosanitary certificate. The concessionary rate is for the first £1,500 (full price value) of APHA services in a financial year if any of the following apply:

• you’re exporting VAT-exempt goods
• you’re not registered for VAT and do not need to be registered in that financial year
• your certified exports were worth less than £5,000 in the last financial year

Exporting from Great Britain to the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein

All regulated plants and plant products exported from England, Scotland or Wales are subject to import controls.

This could include documentary, identity and physical checks at the EU border.

Regulated plants and plant products include:

• all plants for planting
• root and tubercle vegetables
• some common fruits other than fruit preserved by deep freezing
• cut flowers
• seeds, and other plant or forest reproductive material
• leafy vegetables other than vegetables preserved by deep freezing
• some wood and wood products
• used farm or forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

Find out about exporting wood, wood products, bark and wood packaging material.

Read how to apply for plant breeders’ rights and market plant reproductive material, seeds and other propagating material.

Moving plants including used agricultural and forestry machinery, from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

To move plants and seeds for planting, or used agricultural and forestry machinery and vehicles from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland you must either:

• apply a Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) to the consignment where goods are destined to remain in Northern Ireland
• apply for a phytosanitary certificate from the relevant UK plant health authority (you can find out how in the UK plant health authorities section at the top of this page)

Seed potatoes can only be moved to Northern Ireland from Great Britain using a NIPHL. You can read the guidance on moving seed potatoes on GOV.UK.

In both cases you must register as a professional operator, if you have not already done so and the business (or their agent) receiving the goods in Northern Ireland must notify DAERA with details of the consignment by submitting a Common Health Entry Document (CHED-PP) on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES NT).

Sending small quantities from Great Britain to individuals in Northern Ireland

You can send small amounts of plant products in parcels to the final consumer in Northern Ireland. You will still need a phytosanitary certificate.

You must clearly label parcels as containing sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods. For example, with a green label that includes the wording ‘SPS’.

Border control posts (BCPs) in the EU

Your goods will need to be exported to an EU BCP, approved to handle plants and plant products in the EU.

Exempt plants and plant products

Exempt plants and plant products do not need plant health controls and so will not be subject to import controls at EU countries or Northern Ireland. You do not need a phytosanitary certificate to export these exempt goods.

These plants and plant products are exempt:

• pineapple
• coconut
• durian
• bananas
• grain
• plant products (such as fruit and vegetables) that have been processed and packaged to the point that they no longer pose a biosecurity risk composite products like nut and seed butters containing processed fruit or vegetables

Movement of high-risk and prohibited plants

You cannot export some high-risk and prohibited goods from Great Britain to the EU and Northern Ireland.

These fall into 2 categories:

• high-risk plants and plant products
• prohibited plants and plant products

High-risk plants

High-risk plants and plant products cannot enter the EU and Northern Ireland, until a full risk assessment is conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The following genera of plants for planting from Great Britain are prohibited:

• Acacia
• Albizia
• Annona
• Bauhinia
• Caesalpinia
• Cassia
• Castanea
• Diospyros
• Ficus carica
• Fraxinus
• Hamamelis
• Jasminum
• Juglans
• Lonicera
• Nerium
• Persea
• Robinia
• Ulmus

The prohibition does not apply to seeds, fruits, leaves, tissue culture material and naturally or artificially dwarfed woody plants of these genera.

You must consult your local plant health and seeds inspector if you wish to move any of the following plants for planting from Great Britain, as some of the species within these genera have now been approved to move:

• Acer
• Alnus
• Berberis
• Betula
• Cornus
• Corylus
• Crataegus
• Fagus
• Ligustrum
• Malus
• Populus
• Prunus
• Quercus
• Salix
• Sorbus
• Taxus
• Tilia

High-risk plant products

These plant products are prohibited:

• plants of Ullucus tuberosus
• fruits of Momordica from countries where Thrips palmi is present and effective mitigation measures are not in place

How to apply for an exemption from the high-risk prohibition

An application will need to be submitted by Defra to the European Commission for every high-risk plant. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will then assess the information provided by Defra and complete a full risk assessment on the plant or plant product.

If the risk assessment allows the trade, the plant or plant product will be removed from the high risk list. But it may still need specific import requirements, including phytosanitary certification.

EFSA has set out the information and format required to submit an application.

Prohibited plants and plant products

These plants and plant products are prohibited for movement from Great Britain to the EU and Northern Ireland. This includes:

• isolated bark of Castanea
• plants of Vitis, other than fruits
• plants of Citrus, Fortunella, Poncirus, and their hybrids, other than fruits and seeds
• tubers of Solanum tuberosum, seed potatoes (these can now move to Northern Ireland under the NI plant health label scheme)
• plants for planting of stolon - or tuber-forming species of Solanum, and their hybrids
• soil as such consisting in part of solid organic substances
• growing medium as such, other than soil, consisting in whole or in part of solid organic substances, other than that composed entirely of peat or fibre of Cocos nucifera, previously not used for growing of plants or for any agricultural purposes

Note: plants for planting moving to Northern Ireland under the NIPHL scheme can have soil or growing media attached, provided this is in compliance with NI’s requirements. If you are unsure of requirements, speak to your local inspector.

You can find out how to contact your UK plant health authority on the top of this page under the ‘UK plant health authorities’ section.

EU Protected Zones of fireblight

Plants and live pollen for pollination of the following species (excluding their fruit and seeds) are also prohibited when exporting to EU Protected Zones of fireblight (Erwinia amylovora):

• Amelanchier
• Chaenomeles
• Cotoneaster
• Crataegus
• Cydonia
• Eriobotrya
• Malus
• Mespilus
• Photinia davidiana
• Pyracantha
• Pyrus
• Sorbus

How to export prohibited plants and soil

You can only send prohibited plants or soil to someone who has a scientific licence to receive them in the EU. They will have a ‘letter of authority’ with their licence.

Follow these steps to export prohibited material to EU countries:

1. Ask the recipient for a copy of their letter of authority.
2. Send to APHA to be endorsed.
3. Attach the letter of authority to the outside of all packages before you send them. You should also include copies of the letter of authority inside the packaging.
4. Store prohibited the plants or soil in 3 layers of packaging - at least 1 of the layers must be escape and shatter-proof.

If the recipient tells you that you do not need a letter of authority, ask them to show you official confirmation of this from their plant health authority. Send this confirmation to:

• APHA for England and Wales
• SASA for Scotland
• DAERA for Northern Ireland

Do not send your material until you have got confirmation from the recipient’s plant health authority and the relevant competent authority.

Plant health exports audited trader scheme (PHEATS)

If you move ware potatoes, fruit, vegetables or cut flowers from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland, you may be eligible for the plant health exports audited trader scheme (PHEATS).

This means you’ll be able to do your own inspections and apply for phytosanitary certificates to be issued.

Find out how to apply and register for the scheme on the plant health portal.

Under the PHEATS scheme, you’ll have to pay for:

• an initial site visit to include training, assessment and authorisation - £313.24 per authorisation
• an auditing / monitoring fee - £178.92 per audit
• the issue of a certificate - £25.52 per phytosanitary certificate

Movements from Northern Ireland to Great Britain

Qualifying Northern Ireland goods (QNIGs) can continue to move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain in the same way as they did before 1 January 2021.

QNIGs are goods:

• in free circulation in Northern Ireland - on the basis that they are not under customs supervision (except when that supervision arises from from the goods being taken out of Northern Ireland or the EU), or
• which have undergone processing operations in Northern Ireland under the inward processing procedure, and only incorporate inputs which were in free circulation in the UK

This means that if you are an operator based in Great Britain and receive a consignment of plants or plant products from Northern Ireland which are QNIGs and subject to plant passport requirements, they will continue to arrive at your premises with an EU plant passport as they do now.

As these are QNIGs you do not need to routinely replace this EU plant passport with a UK plant passport, and the goods may be moved on under their EU plant passport unless:

• you split the consignment and the new ‘units’ (these may be trolleys, pallets, boxes, bags or similar) no longer have a plant passport attached to them, or
• you choose to replace the plant passport (for example, to include your supplier’s details for business purposes)

If either apply, a UK plant passport could be issued without a full examination of the plants taking place before onward movement. This is in line with current guidance on when to replace a plant passport. You must keep records of any changes made.

If you replace a plant passport on a QNIG you must put the code ‘GB(NI)’ in Part E of that replacement UK plant passport, to help maintain their identity as QNIGs.

This is to aid monitoring of compliance with plant passporting requirements, including the specific provisions for QNIGs.

This will help ensure that it is easily visible whether a good has originated outside of Great Britain’s phytosanitary zone, yet may not have undergone full third country checks, which will be important for tracing purposes in the event of a pest or disease is found.

If the phytosanitary status of your consignment changes, for example because traceability has not been maintained, there is a pest or disease issue with the consignment or the plants have been ‘grown on’, then a full examination will need to be carried out on the plants.

Once confirmed they are fully aligned with GB plant health standards, a standard UK plant passport with Part E left blank could be issued.

Read guidance on when plants have been ‘grown-on’.

Returned wood, plants and plant products

Plants and plant product consignments rejected at EU BCPs can re-enter Great Britain through any point of entry.

You must submit an import pre-notification using the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) to notify APHA for rejected plants and plant products returning to England or Wales.

‘Pre-notification’ means giving advance notice to the responsible authority for goods that arrive in Great Britain.

You must give notice:

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

For rejected plants and plant products returning to Scotland go to the SASA.

For wood and wood products returning to Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales) you’ll need to notify the Forestry Commission.

You must include a copy of the original phytosanitary certificate with pre-notification.

If your consignment was exported without a phytosanitary certificate, before returning your goods please contact:

• APHA for plants and plant products in England and Wales on 0300 1000 313
• SASA for plants and plant products in Scotland on 0131 244 8890
• Forestry Commission for wood and wood products in Great Britain on 0300 067 5155

APHA, SASA and the Forestry Commission will assess this information to decide the conditions of import and if the consignment needs further checks on entry to Great Britain.

If further checks are needed someone from FC, APHA or SASA in Scotland will contact you.

Exporting from the UK to non-EU countries

If you export regulated plants and plant products from the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to non-EU countries, you must follow the import regulations in the country you’re exporting to.

Get help researching your export market.

Contact APHA for advice on what the import regulations and rules are in the country you’re exporting to.

Check the destination country profile page of the International Plant Protection Convention’s website to find out if you need a phytosanitary certificate.

Make sure you ask to receive an official document to explain the rules in that country and how to comply. This will help UK inspectors to prepare your export correctly.

You may need a phytosanitary certificate if you’re exporting:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• seeds
• grain
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm and forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes
• wood and wood products

Applying for a phytosanitary certificate

You can use the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service for:

• plants, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers
• plant products
• grain
• seeds
• bulbs
• potatoes
• used farm and forestry machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

If you’re exporting certain fruits and vegetables, you may need a certificate of conformity as well as a phytosanitary certificate.

You apply a different way to export plants from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If you’re a member of the Plant Health Propagation Scheme or the Seed Potato Classification Scheme, you may not need an inspection. Contact APHA to find out.

Exporting grain from the UK to non-EU countries

You may need a phytosanitary certificate to export grain if there has been no recent trade in grain to the country you are exporting to. Check the grain standard operating protocol (GSOP) before sending consignments.

Before you can apply for a phytosanitary certificate to export grain, you need to:

-  apply for certification if you’re a qualified authorised trade inspector (ATI)

• email grainexports@apha.gov.uk to get a licence if you’re not an ATI

Wood packaging material

If you use wood packaging material to export goods to other countries, check your solid wood packaging meets requirements.

Plants and plant products may move freely within the European Single Market, without inspections at national borders.

All plants for planting and some plant products require a plant passport to facilitate their movement. Where required, a passport is needed both for movements within and between member states, and additional requirements apply for movements into and within EU Protected Zones.

What are plant passports?

Plant passports are a guarantee that the material meets the plant health requirements for freedom from ‘quarantine’ organisms.

Plant passports may only be issued by growers who are registered and authorised for the purpose. Authorisation is granted on the basis of inspections of plants, premises and records by a Plant Health Inspection Branch Inspector.

Read a guide to plant passports from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

For further information on the Plant Passporting system, contact DAERA on either Tel: 0300 200 7847 or Email: planthealth@daera-ni.gov.uk.
 

If you are travelling in the EU, you can bring live plants and plant products (such as cut flowers, fruit or vegetables) into Northern Ireland without any documentary or physical checks, as long as they have been grown in an EU country, are free from pests or diseases and are for your own personal use.

However, you are advised to retain any receipt(s) and/or pot label(s) relating to plant purchases made in the EU, for movement into NI. In this context, “EU” includes the 27 member countries plus Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

Bringing some plants and plant products into Northern Ireland from areas within the EU is restricted because of the Northern Ireland ‘Protected Zone’ status against a range of pest and diseases.

See a list of pests and diseases for which NI has PZ status.

There is no personal allowance for plants in personal baggage when entering Northern Ireland from a non-EU (“third”) country. If you intend to bring plants or plant products (including cut flowers) with you into Northern Ireland from a non-EU country (including England, Scotland or Wales), then they must be accompanied by a valid phytosanitary (plant health) certificate, attesting that they are free from specific pests and diseases.

An exemption exists for fruits of banana, coconut, durian, date and pineapple, which do not require a phytosanitary certificate for importation from outside the EU.

Since April 2022, phytosanitary certificates can only be issued for plants grown and inspected on registered, professional premises until their time of sale / export.

Hence, private individuals are no longer eligible to apply for a phytosanitary certificate to cover such plant movements and cannot legally bring these items with them from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.

The above rules also apply if you want to order live “plants for planting” (including seeds, bulbs, tubers and corms) online or have them sent by mail.

Read a summary of personal food import restrictions

DAERA inspectors at ‘points of entry’ (ports and airports) are authorised to seize any materials deemed to be a potential risk to plant health, at their discretion.

There are certain requirements for importing and exporting wood and bark for Northern Ireland, this includes the wood packing for any other goods that are transported inside or outside the European Union (EU).

The requirements help to prevent the spread of tree damaging pests and diseases.

• Wood packaging material import requirements into Northern Ireland
• Flowchart to determine import requirements for wood packaging material into Northern Ireland
• Plant Health Checks of Wood Packaging Material from China and Belarus Implementation of Decision (EU) 2018/1137
• Wood and bark imports from countries outside the EU requiring notification

You can also read a guide to importation and export of wood and wood products for Northern Ireland.

Forms - Wood and Bark

• Registration as Professional Operator and Application to become Registered Authorised Professional Operator 
• Application for Phytosanitary Certificate - Wood and Bark
• Consignment of notification of wood packaging material from China and Belarus implementation of decision (EU) 2018/1137

Wood and Bark Import Inspection Fees

Imports of wood or bark from countries outside the EU may be charged for documentary, identity or plant health checks. Imports must be notified to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) using TRACES NT.

Read more about charging procedures for documentary, identity and plant health checks for imported wood and bark.

Exports of certain plants and plant products to third countries may be prohibited by the importing country.

Where exports are permitted, the regulated plants or plant products must normally be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

This confirms that the regulated plants or plant products to which it relates have

• been officially inspected in the country of origin (or country of dispatch)
• comply with statutory requirements for entry into the importing country
• are free from quarantine pests and diseases

It is the responsibility of the individual wishing to export the plant or plant-related products to check with the importing (receiving) country what statutory requirements must be met to allow entry to that particular country. The importing country may issue you with an import permit which will list all the requirements clearly.

As it may be necessary to carry out certain checks before issuing a phytosanitary certificate, you should submit an application at the earliest opportunity if considering an export.

Phytosanitary Export Certificate Online (PECOL)

PECOL is the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA's) online application system for phytosanitary certificates which replaces the older paper-based application method. DAERA will aim to provide the phytosanitary certificate within 10 working days of the online application being submitted.

If an inspection is not required, the certificate can be collected from the DAERA Direct office nominated on the application, after receiving email notification from DAERA. As this email contains the unique reference number for your phytosanitary certificate, you or a representative of your business must bring a copy of this email with you for verification purposes. This may be printed or on an electronic device.

Phytosanitary certificates, which are valid for 14 days, can also be posted if this has been requested at application.

To apply for a phytosanitary certificate it is essential to have a DAERA issued business ID number. If you do not already have a business ID number then please contact your local DAERA Direct Office to request one.

Get a Phytosanitary Certificate

PECOL instructional videos

Before you make an application you may want to watch the PECOL video, which guides you through the process for submitting an application. View the PECOL instructional video.