Importation of plants and plant products
Information related to the importation of plants and plant products into Northern Ireland.
Controls for plant and plant product imports
Plants brought back from abroad could carry serious pests and diseases. In order to safeguard plant health in the United Kingdom, there are statutory controls on importing plants and plant products (such as flowers and fruits) into this country. Full details are obtainable from the Plant Health Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).
Broadly speaking, plants and plant products are divided into one of the following categories, according to their risk of spreading plant pests and diseases:
- Prohibited - These pose such a serious risk that you must not import them. Many species of rooted plants from outside Europe fall into this category.
- Controlled - These must normally be certified as healthy by the plant protection service of the exporting country. Rooted plants which are not prohibited and most fruits come into this category. It also includes sunflower seeds and cut flowers of chrysanthemum, carnation and geranium imported from outside the European Union.
- Unrestricted - These present little or no risk and you do not have to comply with any plant health controls if you wish to import them. This category includes nearly all flower seeds, most cut flowers and most vegetables for eating (except potatoes).
Concessions
There are, however, concessions for travellers which allow you to bring small quantities of controlled plant material into Britain without certificates providing they are:
- in your personal baggage
- intended for your own use and not intended for use in the course of trade or business
- free from signs of pests and diseases
Providing these conditions are satisfied, you may import plants and/or plant products up to the limits set out below. These vary according to the part of the world from which you are travelling. Further information is available from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Website.
European Union (EU) countries
You may bring back any plant material, providing it was grown in the EU.
Non-EU countries in the Euro-Mediterranean area
These include
- Algeria
- the Canary Islands
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- Israel
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Malta
- Morocco
- Norway
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Tunisia
- Turkey
You may bring back no more than
- five plants and
- 2 kg of bulbs, corms, tubers (but not potatoes) and rhizomes and
- 2 kg of fruit and
- cut flowers and foliage together forming a single bouquet and
- five retail packets of seeds (but not seeds of potatoes)
Any other countries
You may bring back no more than
- 2 kg of fruit and
- cut flowers and foliage together forming a single bouquet and
- five retail packets of seeds (but not seeds of potatoes)
If you wish to import more than these amounts, you will require phytosanitary (that is plant health) certificates issued by the plant protection service of the exporting country.
Remember, DARD Portal Inspectors will confiscate plants and plant produce which contravene these controls.
Related links
Please note that this link is to non Department of Agriculture and Rural Development site.
We are not responsible for the content or reliability of the linked website. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that the link will work all the time and we have no control over the availability of linked pages.