Can you bring plants into the UK from abroad?

UPDATE: EU and RoW rules – don’t bother!

Remember being a gardener on holiday abroad and being smitten by exotic flora – but can you bring plants into the UK, especially after Brexit?

Since Brexit and its fallout, the situation has gone through a series of phased changes. The government website is confusing, to say the least. My advice is DON’T BRING BACK PLANTS FROM ABROAD.

There is a massive moral argument about bringing plant diseases into the country. (See my post on The RHS and Dame Helen Mirren’s campaign). Xylella is on the rampage in Europe. We can’t allow that into the UK.

Can you bring plants into the UK from abroad? – Avoid buying plants as souvenirs

Our native ash trees are now infected by the fungus Chalara fraxinea. This has shown what a damaging effect plant pests and disease can have on communities, businesses and the economy.

If you fall in love with a plant while on holiday, wait until you get home. Source it from a reputable UK supplier. They should (double-check) have the correct certification and plant passports. Why risk introducing disease into our native and garden plants? The best you can hope for is that Border Force officials will seize your precious buys.

You will see plants for sale in airports, especially in the EU. These aren’t for people in the UK to buy, and the prices are vastly inflated. Never buy plants, etc, sold at the roadside, as you don’t know where they’ve come from. And finally, never gather seeds or plants from the wild, as you have no idea if they are carrying pests or diseases.

Rules on plants and seeds from the EU

The new import system focuses on professional operators, not tourists. The new plant health regulations prevent the public from bringing most plants and plant products into the country.

Before Brexit, individuals could bring some plant material into the UK from other EU member countries, provided that the material was accompanied by an EU plant passport and provided it met some specific requirements. The EU plant passport is no longer valid in GB (different rules apply in Northern Ireland).

Bringing back plants is complicated for personal use – read more from Defra. You need a phytosanitary certificate for many plants, plant parts, seeds and bark. It will put you off – www.gov.uk/guidance/import-plants-and-plant-products-from-the-eu-to-great-britain.

Even if they don’t need a certificate, if you’re bringing in over 2kg of plants for planting, you must arrange for a plant health inspector to inspect your plants when they enter Great Britain.

Can you bring plants into the UK from abroad? – Outside the EU

Many plants have weight and quantity restrictions or are banned completely without a phytosanitary certificate. Again, not geared up for individual travellers. Regulated plant material also requires pre-notification, so no impulse buys.

You can find more information on the rules around bringing plant material from third countries on the Defra website. Frankly, I’d leave this to professional importers.

Buying plants online

Plants ordered from overseas online are subject to the same phytosanitary rules. To prevent the introduction of pests and diseases from overseas, the RHS encourages gardeners to only buy from UK nurseries.

The government’s Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate want people to report any suspicious or unsolicited plant products by emailing [email protected].

Further information on bringing plants into the UK

You can’t bring endangered plants into the UK, regardless of where you are travelling from, without the correct permits.

For more information, call the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (from the UK) +44 (0)20 7238 6951 (from outside the UK). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.