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Food Safety

Trade in plants & plant products from non-EU countries

Phytosanitary certificate

Certain plants, plant products and other objects (listed in Annex XI and XII of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072) entering the EU must have a phytosanitary certificate guaranteeing that they are:

  • properly inspected;
  • free from quarantine pests, within the requirements for regulated non-quarantine pests and practically free from other pests;
  • in line with the plant health requirements of the EU, laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/2072

The exporting country's national plant protection authorities issue the phytosanitary certificates. Once in the EU, a plant passport may replace the phytosanitary certificate for imported plants, plant products and other objects which are also listed in Annex XIII and XIV of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

From 1 January 2021, every import from Great Britain is subject to the same phytosanitary import prohibitions and requirements as other non-EU European countries. For Northern Ireland the existing internal EU requirements remain applicable. Regulation (EU)2019/2072 has been amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/2211 in that perspective.

Exemptions

Exemptions to the above requirements are possible in the following cases provided there is no risk of spreading of harmful organisms:

  • no phytosanitary certificate is required for the import of five fruits: pineapples, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates (Annex XII Part C of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072)
  • some commodities originating from non-EU countries are prohibited for introduction within the whole EU (Annex VI of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072) or in defined protected zones of the EU (Annex IX of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072)
  • some commodities originating in non-EU countries are provisionally banned from introduction within the whole EU: these are the high risk plants and plant products (Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 - see item “high risk plants”)
  • plants, plant products or other objects for trial or scientific purposes or for work on varietal selections: a letter of authorization needs to be issued, in line with Regulation (EU) 2019/829;
  • plants, plant products or other objects grown, produced or used in the frontier zone between the EU and the non-EU country.
  • plants, plant products and other objects in transit through EU territory; – Regulation (EU) 2019/2124
  • Other exemptions may apply under specific conditions and for a limited time in accordance with existing Decision laid down under Article 15 of Directive 2000/29/EC and new Regulations laid down under Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

Passengers’ luggage

It is prohibited to introduce into the EU territory plants, plant products and other objects in passengers’ personal luggage, unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.

Those include:

  • plants to be planted
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • cut flowers

However no phytosanitary certificate is needed for fruits of pineapple, coconut, durian, banana or date, for which there are no restrictions.

The full list of those commodities is listed in Annex XI to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

The full list of commodities that need a phytosanitary certificate only for certain protected zones of the EU are listed in Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

Legislation on plant health checks

Further information

Declarations - non-EU
Certain plants, plant products and other objects entering the EU must have a phytosanitary certificate guaranteeing that they are: properly inspected.
High risk plants
The Plant Health Law increases the prevention against the introduction of new pests via imports from non-EU countries.
Non-EU trade alert list
The "Alert list" table includes particular trades (commodity/exporting country combinations) into the EU that are intercepted most frequently with organisms harmful to plants.
Reduced frequency checks
Although the general rule is that all consignments of material listed in Annex V Part B must be inspected on arrival in the EU, plant health checks...