July Import Changes

On 22 July 2022, a new GB focused risk-based inspection regime has been introduced across England, Scotland and Wales. Additionally, a new flat-rate fee will apply across England and Wales for physical and identity checks on imports of most plants for planting and cuttings.

Those importing plants for planting and other commodities using PEACH will be asked some additional questions during their application:

For plants for planting:

1) Is the commodity a woody plant? 

2) Are the plants for direct retail sale?  

3) Are the plants intended for use as indoor plants?

For seeds:

1) Are the seeds intended for trial or testing purposes?

For Bulbs:

Whether the plants are for direct retail sale, commercial flower production (finished) or for propagation

The following guidance can be used to help answer these questions.

What is a woody plant?

Within our legislation a woody plant is defined as:

“Woody plants” means plants which have a woody or partly woody stem, and includes all trees, forest reproductive material (other than seed), shrubs and palms, and those vines and perennial herbs with woody or partly woody stems; and for this purpose “perennial herbs” means herbs for which the average life exceeds two years.”

Annex I lists some of the genera that can be classed as non-woody.

What do we mean by ‘are the plants for direct retail sale’?

Within our legislation plants for direct retail sale are Intended for final users, specifically ”means intended, by evidence from the packaging, labelling or by other means, for direct supply to final users”.

The intended use of a plant has a significant impact on the biosecurity risk it poses, in so far as the likelihood of introducing (= entry + establishment) a pest or disease. Plants intended for further propagation, growing on, or multiplying on a commercial scale provide greater potential for pests and diseases, where present, to spread and multiply, often with a ready and dense stock of viable hosts in close proximity. Those intended for final users pose a relatively lower biosecurity risk, with reduced potential for pest and disease transfer on a large scale.

The UK Plant Health Service continuously reviews new, emerging and changing biosecurity threats, to ensure our high plant health status is maintained. The frequency of checks which applies to different plant species, intended for different purposes, from different origins is adjusted over time in line with this risk-management approach.

In many cases it is self-evident whether or not a plant is intended for direct retail sale for the final user, but there are some circumstances where it isn’t so clear. To help, we have provided some generic scenarios to illustrate whether plants should be categorised as intended for the final user, together with some category specific cases where, by exception, particular plants may be classified as such. If you remain unclear, please contact your local plant health inspector who will be to advise you further, or you can contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s helpdesk at planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk or phone 0300 1000 313 (for England and Wales), or for Scotland please contact the Horticulture and Marketing Unit (HMU) hort.marketing@gov.scot who will continue to undertake all physical inspections in Scotland.

Scenario	Description	Plants for direct sale intended for final user?
1.	Plug bedding plants that are imported by a commercial nursery and are immediately re-potted before sale to final consumers (either directly, or via another operator/business)	Yes
2.	Plug bedding plants that are imported by a commercial nursery, maintained in their current state and are not grown on. Sold on to private individuals by mail order (either directly, or via another operator/business)	Yes
3.	Plants (including aquatics) and plant products (e.g. seed) which are imported to a GB business and immediately packaged for sale to final consumers (e.g. seed imported in bulk and immediately separated in small packets ready for sale to final users). This applies to both direct and indirect (i.e. via another operator/business) supply to the final user	Yes
4.	Plants sold on the internet to final users via distance contracts	Yes
5.	Young plants/cuttings imported by a commercial nursery, to retain on site for growing on to a different state, before sale to other businesses or final consumers	No
6.	Plug plants intended for commercial crop production (e.g. tomato plants to be planted on for production of tomato fruit)	No
7.	Trees of any size, imported to plant on at end-customer’s premises, e.g. building site or landscaping project. This includes bare-rooted trees which are potted on to sustain them before moving to the customer’s premises.	No
8.	Seed imported and intended for production of a crop which is destined for marketing or re-planting (i.e. farm saved seed)	No
9.	Plants such as fruit trees imported for planting into an orchard for fruit production	No
10.	Plants sold on the internet to commercial growers who will use the plants to produce a crop	No
11.	Plants (including aquatics) and plant products (e.g. seed) which are imported to a GB business and immediately packaged for sale to final consumers (e.g. seed imported in bulk and immediately separated in small packets ready for sale to final users). This applies to both direct and indirect (i.e. via another operator/business) supply to the final user.	Yes
Scenarios specific to a category of plant
12.	Seed potatoes: intended for any type of commercial production/propagation, to produce seed potatoes, ware potatoes, farm saved seed	No

What is an indoor plant?

Within our legislation an indoor plant is defined as:

Indoor plants ” means plants which appear from their packaging, labelling or by other means to be intended for direct supply to final users for indoor use or use in aquaria.”

Scenario	Description	Are the plants indoor plants?
1.	Aquatic plants for sale in a pet shop/garden centre	Yes
2.	Plants displayed in a house, conservatory, or atrium	Yes – as long as the plants have been packaged and labelled in a way for final users
3.	Plants that are intended to be grown for their whole life in a domestic greenhouse (whether heated, or unheated)	Yes – if it is clear from packaging/labelling that the plants are not intended for growing outdoors
4.	Plants of a genera/species which are suitable for growing outside in some situations, but are clearly packaged/labelled as for indoor use only (e.g. potted herbs, for kitchen use)	Yes – but only if clearly packaged/labelled as such. If not, then such plants should not be regarded as for indoor use.
5.	Plants that are clearly packaged/labelled as houseplants, but which householders may choose to plant outside at a later stage (e.g. potted flowering bulbs)	Yes – but only if clearly packaged/labelled as such. If not, then such plants should not be regarded as for indoor use.
6.	Plants that are going to be grown in a commercial greenhouse	No – as they are not packaged in a way intended for direct supply to final users
7.	Plants that are intended to be kept outside in summer, but may be brought inside in winter to protect from frost	No – as they are not intended for indoor use
8.	Plants that are produced/propagated in a greenhouse in their early life, for planting outside later	No – as they are not intended for indoor use

What is seed for trial or testing?

Scenario	Description	Are the seeds for trial or testing?
1.	Seed imported into GB for tests and trial purposes, that are not destined or eligible for further marketing, not intended to produce a crop which is destined for marketing and are destroyed after trials are completed.	Yes

Bulbs for direct retail sale, commercial flower production or for propagation?

Scenario	Description	Are the bulbs for direct retail sale, commercial flower production or for propagation?
1.	Imported and intended for the final user to commercially grow them on to produce cut flowers, with the bulbs then being destroyed. This applies to both direct and indirect (i.e. via another operator/business) supply to the final user.	Yes
2.	As above, but bulbs are used for multiplication (i.e. to produce further bulbs)	No
3.	Imported bulbs grown on, not for cut flowers, which are then supplied to a final user	No

Annex I Non-Woody plants

The statutory instrument definition takes precedent, however, the list of non-woody plants below will help you to identify whether the plant is needs to be declared as woody.

Non-woody plants such as:

Genus	Family
Abelmoschus	Malvaceae
Acanthospermum	Asteraceae
Achillea	Asteraceae
Ageratum	Asteraceae
Agrimonia	Rosaceae
Agropyrum	Poaceae
Ajuga	Lamiaceae
Alcea	Malvaceae
Allium	Alliaceae
Alstroemeria	Alstroemeriaceae
Althaea	Malvaceae
Alyssum	Brassicaceae
Amaranthus	Amaranthaceae
Ambrosia	Asteraceae
Anagallis	Primulaceae
Anaphalis	Asteraceae
Anemone	Ranunculaceae
Anethum	Apiaceae
Anoda	Malvaceae
Anthriscus	Apiaceae
Antirrhinum	Scrophulariaceae
Apium	Apiaceae
Aquilegia	Ranunculaceae
Arabis	Brassicaceae
Arachis	Fabaceae
Arctium	Asteraceae
Argyranthemum	Asteraceae
Artemisia	Asteraceae
Asclepias	Asclepiadaceae
Aster	Asteraceae
Atriplex	Chenopodiaceae
Aubrietia	Brassicaceae
Avena	Poaceae
Baccharis	Asteraceae
Bacopa	Scrophulariiaceae
Basella	Basellaceae
Bauhinia	Fabaceae
Bellis	Asteraceae
Beta	Chenopodiaceae
Betonica	Lamiaceae
Bidens	Asteraceae
Bilderdykia	Polygonaceae
Borago	Boraginaceae
Brachycome	Asteraceae
Brassica	Brassicaceae
Brunnera	Boraginaceae
Bryonia	Cucurbitaceae
Bupleurum	Apiaceae
Cajanus	Fabaceae
Calendula	Asteraceae
Callistephus	Asteraceae
Calonyction	Convolvulaceae
Canavalia	Fabaceae
Capraria	Scrophulariaceae
Capsella	Brassicaceae
Capsicum	Solanaceae
Cardiospermum	Sapindaceae
Cardiuus	Asteraceae
Carthamus	Asteraceae
Cassia	Fabaceae
Celosia	Amaranthaceae
Centaurea	Asteraceae
Centranthus	Valerianaceae
Centrosema	Fabaceae
Ceratosanthes	Cucurbitaceae
Cestrum	Solanaceae
Cheiranthus	Brassicaceae
Chelone	Scropulariaceae
Chenopodium	Chenopodiaceae
Chrysanthemum	Asteraceae
Cicer	Fabaceae
Cichorium	Asteraceae
Cineraria	Asteraceae
Cirsium	Asteraceae
Citrullus	Cucurbitaceae
Clematis	Ranunculaceae
Cleome	Capparidaceae
Conoclinium	Asteraceae
Conyza	Asteraceae
Cordia	Boraginaceae
Coriandrum	Apiaceae
Crotalaria	Fabaceae
Cucumis	Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbita	Cucurbitaceae
Cyclamen	Primulaceae
Cynara	Asteraceae
Dahlia	Asteraceae
Datura	Solanaceae
Daucus	Apiaceae
Delilia	Asteraceae
Delphinium	Ranunculaceae
Dendranthema	Asteraceae
Desmodium	Fabaceae
Dianthus	Caryophyllaceae
Diascia	Scrophulariiaceae
Digitaria	Poaceae
Dimorphotheca	Asteraceae
Dracaena	Asparagaceae
Eclipta	Asteraceae
Elvira	Asteraceae
Emilia	Asteraceae
Erechtites	Asteraceae
Erigeron	Asteraceae
Eruca	Brassicaceae
Eryngium	Apiaceae
Erysimum	Brassicaceae
Eupatorium	Asteraceae
Eustoma	Gentianaceae
Exacum	Gentianaceae
Felicia	Asteraceae
Flaveria	Asteraceae
Fragaria	Rosaceae
Fuchsia	Onagraceae
Gaillardia	Asteraceae
Galega	Fabaceae
Galinsoga	Asteraceae
Gazania	Asteraceae
Geranium	Geraniaceae
Gerbera	Asteraceae
Gladiolus	Iridaceae
Glechoma	Lamiaceae
Glycine	Fabaceae
Gnaphalium	Asteraceae
Gossypium	Malvaceae
Gypsophila	Caryophyllaceae
Helianthus	Asteraceae
Helichrysum	Asteraceae
Heuchera	Saxifragaceae
Hibiscus	Malvaceae
Holmskioldia	Verbenaceae
Hordeum	Poaceae
Hyacinthus	Asparagaceae
Hydrocotyle	Apaiceae
Hymenopappus	Asteraceae
Hyptis	Laminisceae
Impatiens	Balsaminaceae
Indigofera	Fabaceae
Ipomoea	Convolvulaceae
Jasminum	Oleaceae
Kallstroemia	Zygophyllaceae
Kennedia	Fabaceae
Lactuca	Asteraceae
Lamium	Lamiaceae
Lannea	Anacardiaceae
Lantana	Verbenaceae
Lathyrus	Fabaceae
Launaea	Asteraceae
Lepidium	Brassicaceae
Leucanthemum	Asteraceae
Limonium	Plumbaginaceae
Linaria	Scrophulariaceae
Linum	Linaceae
Lipochaeta	Asteraceae
Lisianthus	Gentianaceae
Lupinus	Fabaceae
Lycopersicon	Solanaceae
Lysimachia	Primulaceae
Malva	Malvaceae
Marah	Cucurbitaceae
Matricaria	Asteraceae
Matthiola	Brassicaceae
Medicago	Fabaceae
Melanthera	Asteraceae
Melilotus	Fabaceae
Meliococcus	Sapindaceae
Melissa	Lamiaceae
Melothria	Cucurbitaceae
Mercurialis	Eurphorbiaceae
Mikania	Asteraceae
Molucella	Lamiaceae
Momordica	Curcurbitaceae
Moringa	Moringaceae
Muscari	Musaceae
Narcissus	Amaryllidaceae
Nasturnium	Brassicaceae
Nepeta	Lamiaceae
Nicotiana	Solanaceae
Ocimum	Lamiaceae
Oenothera	Onagraceae
Oxalis	Oxalidaceae
Paeonia	Paeoniaceae
Papaver	Papaveraceae
Parthenium	Asteraceae
Passiflora	Passifloraceae
Pastinaca	Apiaceae
Pelargonium	Geraniaceae
Penstemon	Scrophulariiaceae
Peperomia	Piperaceae
Pericallis	Asteraceae
Peristrophe	Acanthaceae
Petasites	Asteraceae
Petroselinum	Apaiceae
Petunia	Solanaceae
Phalaenopsis	Orchidaceae
Phaseolus	Fabaceae
Phlox	Poleminiaceae
Phyllanthus	Euphorbiaceae
Physalis	Solanaceae
Picris	Asteraceae
Piper	Piperaceae
Piriqueta	Turneraceae
Pisum	Fabaceae
Plantago	Plantaginaceae
Poinsettia	Euphorbiaceae
Poissonia	Fabaceae
Polemonium	Polemoniaceae
Polygonum	Polygonaceae
Portulaca	Portulacaceae
Primula	Primulaceae
Pterocaulon	Asteraceae
Pupalia	Amaranthaceae
Rajania	Dioscoreaceae
Ranunculus	Ranunculaceae
Raphanus	Brassicaceae
Rhynchosia	Fabaceae
Ricinus	Euphorbiaceae
Rorippa	Brassicaceae
Rumex	Polygonaceae
Ruspolia	Acanthaceae
Saponaria	Caryophyllaceae
Scaevola	Goodeniaceae
Senecio	Asteraceae
Senecioides	Asteraceae
Sida	Malvaceae
Sidalcea	Malvaceae
Silybum	Asteraceae
Sisymbrium	Brassicaceae
Solanum	Solanaceae
Solidago	Asteraceae
Solidaster	Asteraceae
Sonchus	Asteraceae
Sphaeranthus	Asteraceae
Spilanthes	Asteraceae
Spinacia	Chenopodiaceae
Stachys	Lamiaceae
Stellaria	Caryolphyllaceae
Sutera	Scrophulariaceae
Synedrella	Asteraceae
Tagetes	Asteraceae
Tanacetum	Asteraceae
Taraxacum	Asteraceae
Tetragonia	Aizoaceae
Thlaspi	Brassicaceae
Thunbergia	Acanthaceae
Thymus	Lamiaceae
Tillandsia	Bromeliaceae
Tithonia	Asteraceae
Torenia	Scrophulariiaceae
Trachelium	Campanulaceae
Tragopogon	Asteraceae
Tribulus	Zygophyllaceae
Tridax	Asteraceae
Trifolium	Fabaceae
Trigonella	Fabaceae
Tropaeolum	Tropaeolaceae
Tussilago	Asteraceae
Typha	Typhaceae
Valerianella	Valerianaceae
Verbena	Verbenaceae
Verbesina	Asteraceae
Vernonia	Asteraceae
Vicia	Fabaceae
Vigna	Fabaceae
Viola	Violaceae
Wedelia	Asteraceae
Whithania	Solanaceae
Xanthium	Asteraceae
Yucca	Asparagaceae
Zea	Poaceae
Zinnia	Asteraceae

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