That box of bare-root roses or packet of seeds you ordered from an EU nursery can be held, inspected, or even destroyed at the border if the paperwork is wrong. When you import plants UK rules treat living material very differently from ordinary goods, because a single infected plant can carry a pest that wipes out a crop or a woodland. This guide walks through phytosanitary certificates, IPAFFS pre-notification and the plant health risk categories, using only current gov.uk and APHA guidance.
Why plant health controls exist when you import plants UK
Plants, seeds, bulbs, cut flowers and used growing media can all harbour pests and diseases that are not yet established in Great Britain. To keep them out, the government runs a system of biosecurity checks built on three pillars: classifying each consignment by risk, pre-notifying the authorities before arrival, and backing higher-risk goods with an official phytosanitary certificate. Get these three right and most consignments clear smoothly.
The lead agency is the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in England and Wales, and SASA in Scotland. They decide which checks apply and carry out inspections.
Plant health risk categories
Under the current rules, plants and plant products are sorted into four bands: high risk, medium risk A, medium risk B, and low risk. The band drives everything that follows.
High risk and medium risk A goods carry the heaviest obligations. Low risk goods are the lightest touch: they do not need a phytosanitary certificate and do not need a pre-notification (a CHED-PP) raised on IPAFFS. Before you order, check which band your specific plant or seed falls into, because the answer changes the documents you need.
The phytosanitary certificate
For high risk and medium risk A or B plants and plant products, your exporter must obtain a phytosanitary certificate for each consignment. This is issued by the plant health authority in the country the goods are exported from, not by you. It confirms the plants have been inspected and meet GB import requirements.
For high risk and medium risk A consignments you upload a copy of that certificate to IPAFFS when you notify APHA or SASA. Without a valid certificate, a regulated consignment should not be moving at all, so line this up with your supplier before anything ships.
IPAFFS pre-notification and timing
IPAFFS stands for the “Import of products, animals, food and feed system.” You must register to use it, then raise a notification before regulated plants arrive. When you raise a notification you are responsible for the consignment from the moment it enters Great Britain until the authorities finish their checks.
Timing matters. For high risk and medium risk A plants and plant products you must pre-notify APHA or SASA at least 4 working hours before the goods land for air and roll-on-roll-off freight, and at least 1 working day before arrival for all other freight. Miss the window and your consignment can be delayed at the point of entry.
If raising IPAFFS notifications and managing certificates alongside the customs declaration feels like too much, a broker can run the whole entry for you. The team behind our import clearance service handles plant and produce movements and makes sure the pre-notification and customs entry line up.
Controlled and prohibited material
Some plants and plant material cannot be brought in at all, or only under strict licence, because the pest risk is too high. High risk plants for planting, certain trees, and specific countries of origin can be prohibited or restricted. Always confirm the status of your exact species and origin on gov.uk before you commit to an order, rather than assuming a plant that was fine last year is still allowed.
Checklist: importing plants and seeds to GB
- Identify your plant or seed and confirm its risk category (high, medium A, medium B or low).
- Check whether the material is prohibited or needs a licence for your country of origin.
- Ask your exporter to obtain a phytosanitary certificate for each consignment where required.
- Register for IPAFFS and set up your business details.
- Raise the pre-notification (CHED-PP) within the deadline: 4 working hours (air/RoRo) or 1 working day (other freight).
- Upload the phytosanitary certificate to IPAFFS for high and medium risk A goods.
- Prepare your commercial invoice, packing list and EORI number for the customs entry.
Mini-FAQ
Do I always need a phytosanitary certificate to import plants UK?
No. High risk and medium risk A or B plants and plant products need one, but low risk goods do not require a phytosanitary certificate or an IPAFFS pre-notification.
What does IPAFFS stand for?
It stands for the Import of products, animals, food and feed system. You must register and use it to pre-notify the authorities before regulated plants arrive in Great Britain.
How far in advance must I pre-notify?
For high and medium risk A goods, at least 4 working hours before arrival for air and roll-on-roll-off freight, and at least 1 working day before arrival for all other freight.
Who issues the phytosanitary certificate?
The plant health authority in the exporting country, arranged by your exporter, for each consignment. You then upload a copy to IPAFFS where required.
If you also bring in edible goods, the same notification logic applies to importing food supplements to the UK.
Sources (gov.uk): Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS), Import plants and plant products from the EU to Great Britain. Risk categories and requirements can change, verify the current rules on gov.uk before you import.
