Plant Health legislation
Plant Health legislation impacts the requirements of businesses importing and exporting plants, plant products and other objects to and from Great Britain (GB).
The table below lists the main relevant legislation for plant health. The WTO are notified of any amendments to this legislation, as appropriate.
If you have any further questions or require further information, please email us at planthealth@defra.gov.uk.
Base Legislation |
Link |
Covers |
Plant Health Regulation (PHR) |
Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament of the Council (legislation.gov.uk) |
PHR regulations covers rules to determine the phytosanitary risks posed by any species, strain or biotype of pathogenic agents, animals, or parasitic plants injurious to plants or plant products (‘pests’) and measures to reduce those risks. |
Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (PCR) |
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (legislation.gov.uk) |
The PCR covers provisions about GB quarantine pests, provisional quarantine pests, PFA quarantine pests and regulated non-quarantine pests; and measures in relation to the introduction and movement of plants, plant products and other objects into and within Great Britain to reduce the risks in connection with those pests. |
Official Controls Regulation (OCR) |
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council (Legislation.gov.uk) |
The OCR covers the performance of official controls and other official activities by the competent authorities of GB to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products. |
Frequency of Checks |
The Official Controls (Plant Health) (Frequency of Checks) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk) |
The Frequency of Checks regime determines the frequency of checks on goods specified in Part A of Annex 11 of the PCR from third countries under OCR powers. |
Domestic Enforcement
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The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019
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The Domestic Enforcement legislation enables competent authorities to carry out their obligations under, and enforce the rules detailed in, the PHR and the OCR. |
The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (Wales) Regulations 2020. |
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(The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2019) |
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Plant Health fees |
(The Plant Health etc. (Fees) (England) Regulations 2018 (legislation.gov.uk). |
Plant Health fees are laid out in legislation for non-forestry and forestry inspector services.
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The Plant Health etc (Fees) (Wales) Regulations 2018
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The Plant Health (Fees) (Forestry) (Wales) Regulations 2019) |
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The Plant Health (Import Inspection Fees) (Scotland Regulations 2014 |
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The Plant Health (Export Certification) (Scotland) Order 2018 |
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Windsor Framework |
The Windsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)
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Establishes the NI Retail Movement Scheme. |
The Windsor Framework (Plant Health) Regulations 2023
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The Windsor framework regime covers provisions for the movement of seed potatoes and plants between GB and NI, under the NI Plant Health Label scheme. This scheme is for the movement of plants for planting, seed potatoes, vehicles and machinery which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes.
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If you have any further questions or require further information, please email us at planthealth@defra.gov.uk