Guidance

Plant species by import category

Find out the import restrictions that apply to each species of plant, seed, produce or other material depending on where you're bringing it to GB from.

This publication was withdrawn on

We have withdrawn this guidance because the information is no longer up to date. For information about import controls for plants and plant products, read:

Documents

Details

Detailed list of plant species by import category, depending on the country you’re bringing it into Great Britain from. Read this guidance with:

Updates to this page

Published 26 May 2015
Last updated 12 June 2023 + show all updates
  1. Updated 'Import requirements for plants, plant produce and products' - definition of 'the Americas' now includes the Caribbean.

  2. Updated the 'Plants for planting' section in 'Import requirements for plants, plant produce and products' guidance.

  3. Added information about how to get help with your customs declaration.

  4. New import requirements information added for: all fruits of Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber family includes Cucumbers, Squashes, Gourds), Asparagus and Polymnia sonchifolia (Yacón). Import requirement changes to: Fraxinus (Ash), Juglans (Walnut), Pterocarya (Wingnut) and Ulmus davidiana (David Elm). A correction to: Prunus (Includes Cherry, Plum, Peach, Apricot, Flowering Almond).

  5. Corrected entry for Vitis in the “Plants for planting” section to make clear that Vitis plants are only allowed in from EU Member States, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Also removed “West of the Bosphorous” from “Turkey” in the country list.

  6. Updated with new date for the introduction of controls on imports of plants and plant products.

  7. Updated entry for solanum tuberosum under 'Seeds for planting' section.

  8. Multiple changes according to Plant Health (Phytosanitary Conditions) (Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. 'All third countries' changed to 'all other third countries', addition of species’ exemptions legislation, addition of EU Member States as origin. Removal of many genera of Seeds (Section 3); Cut flowers, parts of plants and vegetables (Section 4); Removal of Punica granatum and Annona from Fruit (Section 5); Removal of Potato Breeding Material row from Section 5; Unregulated list expanded to 15 commodities.

  9. Updated the import requirements for plants, plant produce and products guide,

  10. Updated the import requirements for plants, plant produce and products guide,

  11. Fraxinus seeds now only ‘Notifable’. The only ‘True seed’ that requires to be notifiable is Solanum tuberosum, the only Solanaceae seed that requires to be notifiable is Capsicum spp and Solanum lycopersicon. All other Solaneceous seed is subject to 1% SRSF and not notifiable. Allium ascalonicum is not listed in Annex XI Part A and is only subject to 1% SRSF and so not notifiable. Brassica napus , Brassica rapa, and Sinapsis alba have their own separate entries to make it clear that they are notifiable from all countries.

  12. Plant species and objects by Import Category updated

  13. Document updated

  14. First published.

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