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BETA Your feedback will help us improve the UK Plant Health Information Portal

Frequency of plant health import inspections across GB

Frequency of Plant Health Import Inspections Across GB 

Updated: 2nd September 2024

These frequencies apply to certain regulated goods imported into Great Britain. This GB focused risk-based import inspection regime aims to ensure that impacts from plant health checks are kept at a level appropriate to the degree of risk posed by different categories of commodities and that Great Britain’s phytosanitary regime remains appropriate to address the biosecurity risks which GB faces.  

The frequencies are detailed in Table 1.  

Table 1: Frequencies of Checks applicable for goods specified in Part A of Annex 11 of the retained Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. 

 

Category and description of plant, plant product or other object

 Country of origin

 Frequency of Physical and   Identity check (%)

 Frequency of documentary  check (%)

Bulbs, corms, rhizomes, tubers (other than tubers of potatoes), onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables, dormant, not in substrate

All genera intended for planting,  other than commercial flower   production, and not intended for   final users

 Any third country

100

100

All genera intended for planting,   and intended for commercial   flower production, or for final   users

 Any third country

10

100

Cuttings, seedlings intended for planting, not specified or included anywhere else in this table

All genera 

 Any third country

100

100

Plants for planting

Woody plants(2) (other than   specified or included elsewhere   in this table), intended for   planting and intended for final   users(1). All genera

 Any third country

100

100

Non-woody plants(3) (other   than  specified or included   elsewhere in this table),   intended for planting. All genera

 Any third country

30

100

Tomato, cucumber, pepper and aubergine plants for commercial indoor production of edible crops 

EU Member states

10

100

Indoor plants(4). All genera

 Any third country

5

100

Other plants (other than   specified or included elsewhere   In this table), intended for   planting. All genera

 Any third country

100

100

Cut flowers

Carnation

 Columbia, Kenya

5

100

 

 Ecuador

15

100

 

 Turkey

25

100

 

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Columbia,  Kenya,Liechtenstein,  Switzerland or Turkey

100

100

Dendranthema (DC.) Des Moul. (Chrysanthemum L.)  

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

100

100

Eryngium Tournier ex Linnaeus.

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State  , European third  country, Liechtenstein   or  Switzerland

10

100

Gypsophila

 Ecuador

5

100

 Kenya

10

100

Any third country other   than an EU member   state, Ecuador, Kenya,  Liechtenstein or  Switzerland

100

100

Lisianthus L.

Any third country other   than an EU member   state, European third  country, Liechtenstein   or  Switzerland

10

100

Rosa L.  

 Colombia, Ecuador

3

100

 Ethiopia, Kenya

25

100

 Zambia

50

100

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Ethiopia, Kenya,   Liechtenstein,   Switzerland or Zambia

100

100

Solidago L. 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other    than an EU Member     State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

10

100

Other genera not specified or   included elsewhere in this table 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Branches with foliage, parts of Conifers (other than bark or cut Christmas trees)

All genera 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Fruit, vegetables, leaves

Momordica L. 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

50

100

Ocimum L. 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

100

100

Solanaceae Juss. (other than   Solanum tuberosum L. Solanum   lycopersicum   , Solanum   melongena L. and Capsicum   sp.) 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

50

100

Solanum lycopersicum    

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

 Morocco

5

100

 Canary Islands 

25

100

Any third country other   than the Canary   Islands,  an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein,   Morocco or Switzerland  

100

100

Solanum melongena L.  

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

 Turkey  

30

100

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein,   Switzerland or Turkey

50

100

Capsicum 

 Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

100

100

Zea mays 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

100

100

Ipomoea batatas  

Any EU Member State,    Liechtenstein or     Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than Cameroon, an EU   Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

 Cameroon

100

100

Persea americana 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Vitis 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Malus      

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

  European third   countries(5)

15

100

 Argentina

35

100

 Chile

5

100

 New Zealand

10

100

 South Africa

15

100

Any third country other   than Argentina, Chile,   an EU Member State,   Liechtenstein, New   Zealand, South Africa,   Switzerland or   European  Third   countries(5)

100

100

Pyrus    

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

 Argentina

25

100

 Chile

15

100

 European third   countries(5)

50

100

 South Africa

10

100

Any third country other   than Argentina, Chile,   an EU Member State,   European third   countries,   Liechtenstein,   South   Africa or Switzerland

100

100

Fragaria 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Rubus 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Vaccinium     

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

 European third   countries(5)

50

100

 Argentina

50

100

 Chile

10

100

 Peru

5

100

Any third country other   than Argentina, Chile,   an EU Member State,   Liechtenstein, Peru,   Switzerland or   European  Third   Countries(5)

100

100

Zingiber officinale  

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

 Any third country   other    than   Cameroon,   an EU   Member State,   Liechtenstein, Peru or   Switzerland

5

100

 Cameroon and Peru

100

100

Asparagus officinalis 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

100

100

Other genera or species of fruit   or vegetables not specified or   included elsewhere in this table 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or     Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member S   State, Liechtenstein or     Switzerland

5

100

Other leaves not specified or   included elsewhere in this table 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country other   than an EU Member   State, Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Seeds (for sowing), tissue cultures

All genera, for trials or testing 

 Any third country

10

100

Brassicaceae (other than for   trials or testing)

Argentina, Australia,   Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,   New Zealand or   Uruguay

100

100

Capsicum spp. L. (other than   for  trials or testing)

 Any third country

100

100

Poaceae (other than for trials or   testing)

Argentina, Australia,   Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,   New Zealand or   Uruguay

100

100

Solanum lycopersicum L. (other   than for trials or testing)

 Any third country

100

100

Solanum tuberosum L. (True   Seed) (other than for trials or   testing)

 Any third country

100

100

Trifolium spp. (other than for   trials or testing)

Argentina, Australia,   Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,   New Zealand or   Uruguay

100

100

Secale L.

 Afghanistan, India,   Iran, Iraq, Mexico,   Nepal, Pakistan, South   Africa or the USA

100

100

Triticum L.

Afghanistan, India,   Iran,  Iraq, Mexico,   Nepal, Pakistan, South   Africa or the USA

100

100

X Triticosecale Wittm. ex A.   Camus

Afghanistan, India,   Iran,  Iraq, Mexico,   Nepal, Pakistan, South   Africa or the USA

100

100

Other genera or species not   specified or included elsewhere   in this table

 Any third country

5

100

Grain (other than seeds for sowing)

Secale L.

 Afghanistan, India,   Iran,  Iraq, Mexico,   Nepal, Pakistan, South   Africa or the USA

100

100

Triticum L.

 Afghanistan, India,   Iran,  Iraq, Mexico,   Nepal, Pakistan, South   Africa or the USA

100

100

X Triticosecale Wittm. ex A.   Camus

Afghanistan, India,   Iran, Iraq, Mexico,   Nepal, Pakistan, South   Africa or the USA

100

100

Tubers of potatoes

Solanum tuberosum L. (seed   potatoes)

 Any third country

100

100

Solanum tuberosum L. (ware   potatoes)  

 Poland, Portugal or   Romania

50

100

 Egypt or Spain

100

100

Any third country other   than Egypt, Poland,   Portugal, Romania or   Spain

3

100

Cut Christmas trees (less than 3 metres in height)

All genera 

Any EU Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

3

3

Any third country     other  than an EU   Member State,   Liechtenstein or   Switzerland

5

100

Machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes

Machinery or vehicles which   have been operated for   agricultural or forestry purposes

 Any third country

5

100

Wood, wood products and isolated bark

All genera

 Any third country

100

100

(1) “Intended for final users” means intended, by evidence from the packaging, labelling or by other means, for direct supply to final users. 

(2)“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. 

(3) “Non-woody plants” means plants which are not woody plants. 

(4)“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. 

(5) European Countries = includes Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, the Faeroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Russia (only the following parts: Central Federal District (Tsentralnyfederalny okrug), Federal District (Severo-Zapadnyfederalny okrug), Southern Federal District (Yuzhnyfederalny okrug), North Caucasian Federal District (Severo-Kavkazskyfederalny okrug) and Volga Federal District (Privolzhskyfederalny okrug), San Marino, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine).