Prohibitions on imports

Countries have the right to create their own rules for importing plants and plant products, according to a risk assessment. These rules, known as phytosanitary import requirements, help prevent the spread of pests and diseases. For example, some countries prohibit certain commodities from being imported to ensure food safety and protect their ecosystems.

Import prohibitions and impacts on trade

Countries can set their own rules for importing plants and plant products (phytosanitary requirements). These rules are set using principles set out in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement (WTO-SPS agreement), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

• Some countries prohibit certain commodities from being imported due to concerns about the potential spread of pests and food security
• Import restrictions affect trade, so they must be scientifically justified
• Typically, this justification involves a pest risk analysis based on international standards

Export market access requests

• When a country wants to export a prohibited commodity, it can make a “market access request”
• This request asks the importing country’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) to undertake an assessment to determine if the goods can be imported
• If the request is successful, it becomes the basis of a market access agreement between the two countries

The Process for obtaining Market Access

When a country wants to export plants, a “market access request” allows them to demonstrate that the health status of the commodity they want to export is at least as good as that of the country where the prohibition exists.

If the exported commodity poses no greater risk than if it had naturally occurred or been produced in the importing country, the prohibition is not technically justified.

In the typical process (overview of the general export market access process):

• A UK business contacts the UK NPPO Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) (UKNPPO@defra.gov.uk)
• Defra reaches out to the NPPO of the importing country
• The importing country’s NPPO provides a list of questions that need to be answered to create a technical dossier
• Defra collaborates with the UK business to complete the dossier, which is then submitted to the importing country
• The importing country conducts a pest risk analysis (PRA) and may request additional information
• An audit of production areas may also be conducted (though not always)

Timeframe for Market Access Requests

• Market access negotiations take time (usually two or more years) before a decision is reached, although there’s no fixed timeline
• Factors affecting duration include NPPO resources, business capability, request complexity, and technical expertise

Unfortunately, success isn’t guaranteed, but this process aims to balance trade and plant health concerns.