The UK Government has updated its guidelines on how to trade in plants and plant products inside and outside the EU if the UK leaves the EU in April 2019 with no deal.
The majority of plants and plant products (including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers) imported from the EU will continue to enter the UK freely, as currently.
After the UK leaves the EU, any plants and plant products currently managed under the EU plant passport scheme will be subject to UK import controls and become ‘regulated commodities’. This replaces the EU plant passport’s assurance and traceability, and maintains biosecurity.
When you import plants or plant products that are currently managed under the EU plant passport scheme, you’ll need to:
- register as an importer using the Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (PEACH) website for regulated plants and plant products entering the UK via England and Wales
- make sure a regulated consignment enters the UK with a phytosanitary certificate (PC) issued in the country of export (or re-export)
- provide pre-arrival notification using the PEACH website - as part of this you will need to upload scanned copies of your PC and other relevant documents (for example bill of lading, cargo movement request, or delivery company invoice) to the PEACH website
- supply the original copy of the PC by post within 3 days of your consignment arriving in the UK
- if you are entering goods directly into Scotland or Northern Ireland, refer to the relevant plant health authority for further information.