Scientific authorisations

Background

Scientific authorisations (previously scientific licensing) permit the import, holding and movement between quarantine stations/confinement facilities in England and Wales of specified material, provided the material is being used for official testing, scientific research, educational purposes, trials, testing new varieties of plants (varietal selection) or breeding.

There are currently six types of plant health scientific authorisations for different material:

plants, including parts of plants and seeds
invertebrate plant pests (arthropods, molluscs and nematodes)
plant pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses, virus-like agents and phytoplasmas)
soil and other organic material for chemical and physical analysis
soil and other organic material for non-chemical and physical analysis
potatoes

All scientific authorisations strictly outline how the material must be handled from the time of arrival at the quarantine stations/confinement facilities in England or Wales until the material is destroyed.

Further background on scientific authorisations can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/moving-prohibited-plants-plant-pests-pathogens-and-soil

Guidance for authorisation holders and applicants

To determine whether your work requires a scientific authorisation, you should email APHA CIT before making an application.

Guidance for scientific authorisation holders and applicants can now be found here:

Scientific authorisations guidance for authorisation holders and applicants

We are currently reviewing and revising our documents to make them more accessible. If you want a particular document or this guidance in an accessible format please email plantpestsrisks@defra.gov.uk

Scientific authorisation updates

Review of scientific authorisations

Defra are currently conducting a review of scientific authorisations which allow the import and movement of quarantine (specified) material within England and Wales. 

This review is an ongoing process and encompasses several areas, which will affect all authorisation holders, and result in the re-issuing of your current scientific authorisation and letter of authority.

The areas under review are described in this explanatory guidance.