Animal Plant Health Agency
Plant means a living plant (including trees) or a living part of a plant (including a living part of a shrub), at any stage of growth.
Plant product means products of plant origin, unprocessed or having undergone simple preparation, in so far as these are not plants, including wood and bark.
Import plants and plant products from non-EU third countries to Northern Ireland
There are no changes to the way plants are imported from non-EU third countries to Northern Ireland. Imports can continue in the same way as before.
Import from non-EU third countries to GB
You must have a phytosanitary (health) certificate (PC) for almost all plants and living parts of plants, including all seeds for planting, entering Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from non-EU third countries.
You may also need to register as an importer and pre-notify the plant health authority to import certain regulated plants, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and other objects.
Regulated materials that require pre-notification are:
- all plants for planting
- root and tubercle vegetables
- some common fruits other than fruit preserved by deep freezing
- some cut flowers
- some seeds, grains and leafy vegetables other than vegetables preserved by deep freezing
- potatoes
- machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes
If youre not sure whether the item you want to bring to GB is regulated and requires pre-notification, check the list of plant species by import category or contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
If youre importing organic produce, there are extra tasks you need to complete. Find out how to import organic products into the UK.
Register as an importer
You must register as an importer on PEACH before you start importing plants.
After registering you can follow the progress of your consignments through the required checks on the PEACH website.
The PEACH system will be changing to a new IT system in early 2021. You will be contacted to register for the new system when this happens. Until then, you should continue to use PEACH for pre-notification.
Get a phytosanitary certificate (PC)
To import regulated plants and plant products, you must get a PC for each consignment from the plant health authority in the country where your supplier is.
The PC is a statement from the plant health authority that the consignment:
- has been officially inspected
- complies with legal requirements for entry into GB
- is free from quarantine pests and diseases
The inspection referred to in the PC must take place no more than 14 days before the consignment is dispatched from the country where your supplier is.
When you do not need to get a PC
You do not need a PC to import these plants to GB:
- fruit and vegetables that have been processed and packaged - salads, sandwiches, frozen material
- composite products - nut or seed butters that contain processed fruit or vegetables
This list shows the other plants and plant products that wont need a PC for import to GB.
| Botanical name and requirement | Common name |
|---|---|
| Fruit of Ananas comosus | Pineapple |
| Fruits of Actinidia spp. Lindl, | Kiwi |
| Fruits of Cocos nucifera L | Coconut |
| Fruit and leaves of Citrus spp. L. | Citrus |
| Fruit of Fortunella spp. Swingle | Kumquat |
| Fruit of Poncirus L. Raf | Bitter orange |
| Fruit of Diospyros spp. L. | Persimmon |
| Fruits of Durio zibethinus Murray | Durian |
| Fruits (bolls) of Gossypium spp. | Cotton (bolls) |
| Leaves of Murraya spp. | Curry leaves |
| Fruits of Musa spp. | Banana and plantain |
| Fruits of Mangifera spp. L. | Mango |
| Fruits of Phoenix dactylifera L. | Dates |
| Fruits of Passiflora spp. L | Passionfruit |
| Fruits of Psidium spp. | Guava |
Any plants or plant products not included on this PC exemption list will be subject to import regulations and will need a PC.
Quantity
PCs include a quantity declared section. Tell the plant health authority thats completing the form to fill in the quantities as follows.
For cut flowers the quantity must be stated as the number of stems.
Quantities must be stated in kilograms (kg) for fruit, vegetables, soil and branches with foliage, potatoes, grain and the following plants for planting:
- bulbs
- corms and rhizomes
- plants in tissue culture
- seeds
For any other plants for planting, the quantity must be recorded as the number of items in the consignment.
Its up to you to make sure quantities are stated in this way.
Making a pre-notification
You must register on the PEACH website before you start importing plants.
To access PEACH, youll be prompted to register with Government Gateway. You can register with Government Gateway on the PEACH website.
After registering with both Government Gateway and PEACH you will be able to use the PEACH to make a pre-notification and follow the progress of your consignments.
You must give advance notice to the responsible authority each time you bring a regulated consignment to the UK.
You must give notice for material:
- at least 4 working hours before the goods land in the UK, for air and roll-on-roll-off freight
- at least 1 working day before the goods arrive in the UK for all other freight <