Please follow the steps to apply for a Plants GSI on the Plant Health Exports Service (PHES):

Step 1: Log into your Government Gateway Account

1. Enter your Government Gateway ID and password at https://exporter.apply-phytosanitary-certificate.defra.gov.uk/.

2. From the dashboard, click ‘Start a new application’.

Step 2: Application

3. Select the radio button next to the required commodity (plants) and click ‘Continue’.

4. Enter your choice of application type, we will select ‘Arrange a growing season inspection’ and click ‘Continue’.

5. Select the type of commodity which needs inspection (micro propagation material, plants for planting or plants for the production of fruit, flowers or vegetables) and click ‘Continue’.

6. Add your own reference then click ‘Save and continue’.

7. Complete section 1 ‘Application Details’. ‘Create a reference’ is completed, click the hyperlink to open ‘What are the inspection details?’.

8. Select one of the addresses displayed. You can manage or add to the addresses seen here via the hyperlinks. Select yes when correct, then click ‘Continue’.

9. Enter the contact for this application, then click ‘Save and continue’.

10.Enter when the crop will be ready for inspection (free text, so you could enter a date, month etc.) then click ‘Save and continue’.

11. Click on the hyperlink ‘Where is the crop?’

12.Either enter the grid reference / GPS or IACS / RLR number and a location identifier, confirm the landowner’s consent to inspect, add any additional information and yes or no to sending a map, then click ‘Save and continue’. Go to step 14 if no map is added.

13. Click ‘Choose file’, browse to locate, ‘Open’ then click ‘Upload map’ to add. Click yes to keep this once uploaded, or no to delete and repeat this step, then click ‘Save and continue’.

14. Add the botanical name or complete the description box, enter the soil sampling application number (optional) and the number of containers (n.b. this question differs dependant on the commodity chosen at step 5). Finally select the proposed destinations of this crop (up to 10), then click ‘Save and continue’.

15.The location and commodities for inspection are now listed; you can change or delete this location via the hyperlinks if required. Scroll down and you can see the crop added to this location, change or delete via the hyperlinks as required. To add another crop to this location, click ‘Add more crops to this location’ and repeat steps 12 - 14. When all are added, click ‘Save and continue’, or click ‘Add another location’, and repeat steps 12 – 15.

16.When all is complete, click ‘Check and submit your application’.

17.The ‘Review your answers’ page opens. Review all the information input – you can amend anything with a ‘Change’ hyperlink. Click ‘Continue’.

18.Tick the declaration and click ‘Submit application’.

19.The application has been submitted. An inspection will now be arranged. Click the ‘View your applications’ hyperlink to return to the dashboard.

20.The application will show on your dashboard as ‘GSI Report for Plants’. You can open the application by clicking on the application reference number hyperlink (to the left) which then gives you the option to update, view, copy or delete as for a phyto application.

21.Once your application changes to the status of ‘Certificate issued’, your growing season inspection report will be available for you to download.