Check whether plants or plant products you import into GB from all countries are categorised as high, medium or low risk
Updated: May 2024
Plant and plant products imported from all countries to Great Britain are categorised into high, medium risk and low categories. The medium-risk category is split into two subcategories, A and B reflecting a difference in plant health controls.
- High-risk
- Medium-risk A
- Medium-risk B
- Low-risk
Plant health controls apply to imports of high and medium risk A and B plants and plant products.
Low risk plants and plant products from all countries are exempt from plant health controls.
If your products are high risk or medium risk A:
- Goods must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate (PC)
- Good must be pre-notified via IPAFFS
- Goods will be subject to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks (documentary, identity, physical) at a Border Control Points (BCP) or Control Point (CP)
If your products are medium risk B:
- Goods will require a PC but will not need to be pre-notified.
Note: There is currently an easement implemented for EU, Switzerland and Liechtenstein medium-risk fruit and vegetables meaning that they are not required to pre-notify or have a PC. To give EU businesses more time to prepare for new controls, the end date for the easement has been extended and is planned for 31 January 2025.