Guidance

Import bonsai from Japan and Korea to Great Britain

Find out how to import species of bonsai to Great Britain from Japan and Korea, who you can import from, and what the quarantine rules are.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 15 October 2021
• Last updated: 13 December 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

You can import certain species of bonsai from Japan and Korea to Great Britain.

From Japan, you can import naturally or artificially dwarfed plants of:

• Chamaecyparis sp. Spach
• Juniperus sp. L.
• Pinus parviflora Sieb. and Zucc. (Pinus pentaphylla Mayr)
• Pinus thunbergii Parl.
• Pinus parviflora Sieb. and Zucc. grafted on a rootstock of another Pinus species, originating in Japan
• Pinus thunbergii Parl. grafted on a rootstock of another Pinus species, originating in Japan

From Korea, you can import naturally or artificially dwarfed plants of:

• Chamaecyparis sp. Spach
• Juniperus sp. L.
• Pinus parviflora Sieb. and Zucc. (Pinus pentaphylla Mayr)
• Pinus parviflora Sieb. and Zucc. grafted on a rootstock of another Pinus species

Getting quarantine facilities approved

To import bonsai from Japan and Korea you must get your quarantine facilities approved. Email planthealthlicence@apha.gov.uk to arrange for an inspector from the PHSI to visit your premises.

When the PHSI approves the facility they’ll send you an email to confirm this.

You must follow guidance on the documents you need and how to pre-notify the PHSI to import plants and plant products from non-EU countries to Great Britain.

Import fees

The physical inspection will cost £32.15 plus:

• £1.57 for the identification check
• £5.25 for a documentary check for each phytosanitary certificate

Post-entry inspections are free of charge.

When you can import bonsai

You can import:

• Juniperus between 1 November to 31 March
• Chamaecyparis and Pinus at any time of year

Import bonsai from registered nurseries

You must import bonsai plants and any growing media (for example, the soil and compost used to support the plant) from nurseries registered with either:

• the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Japan

• the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of Korea.

The NPPO:

• checks that registered nurseries comply with UK import rules
• issues a phytosanitary certificate to accompany exports of bonsai plants and any growing media

Quarantine bonsai imports

You must move bonsai from Korea and Japan directly from the border control post (BCP) to your approved quarantine facility when they arrive in Great Britain.

Your quarantine facilities must be approved before you can import bonsai from Japan or Korea.

Juniperus plants must be quarantined between 1 April to 30 June. Pinus and Chamaecyparis plants must be quarantined for at least 3 months of active growth.

You must keep the bonsai:

• in a containment facility such as a glasshouse or fully enclosed poly-tunnel
• separate from other plants
• free from pests, and prevent pests escaping

Checking your plants for pests

An PHSI inspector will make an appointment to inspect your plants:

• when they arrive at your facilities
• at least once during active growth
• before allowing them to be released from quarantine

A full list of pests is available in the Annex of Regulation (EU) 2020/1217.

Published 15 October 2021
Last updated 13 December 2023 + show all updates

1. 13 December 2023

   Updated to reflect changes in the law that mean you no longer need a licence to import bonsai from Japan.

2. 23 September 2022

   Updated the import and inspection fees from Japan and Korea with the latest prices.

3. 15 October 2021

   First published.