Guidance on Great Britain (GB) Requirements for Additional Declarations (ADs) on Phytosanitary Certificates (PCs)
The purpose of this guidance is to help interpret the special requirements, also known as ADs, in the GB Plant Health Regulations which dictate whether ADs need to be included on the PC to import plants and plant products. This guidance will also give illustrative examples of how the ADs should be written on the PC.
GB requires that PCs be issued for plants, plant products and other regulated imported material, indicating they are free from pests and diseases specified in Annexes 2 and 2A to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072). The format of the additional declaration should include the full wording of the requirement including references to the full title of the legislation, the applicable Annex and point. Examples of how they should appear on the phytosanitary certificate are provided below.
ADs are statements which must be added to the PC in the relevant section to provide specific additional information pertinent to the PC of a consignment. The full details of the special requirements and which commodities they apply to can be found in Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072).
The AD guidance tools, which are accessible via the Plant Health Portal, can help assist in finding the relevant ADs:
Common practices mean that the format of UK legislation differs to EU legislation in terms of how the conjunctions ‘or’ and ‘and’ are used. In UK legislation, it is common practice for the terms ‘or’ and ‘and’ to only be added at the end of the penultimate paragraph in a list. The implication is that all preceding paragraphs are separated by the same conjunction as that referred to in the penultimate paragraph. While the meaning is the same, in EU legislation these conjunctions are written in-between each of the paragraphs.
The illustrative examples below demonstrate how to interpret the special requirements when these terms are used to separate paragraphs, therefore deciding whether an AD needs to be added to the PC or not
- A - The special requirements don’t include ‘or’ or ‘and'
- B - The special requirements include ‘and’
- C - The special requirements include ‘or’
- D - The special requirements include ‘or’ and ‘and’
- E - The special requirements do not include ‘or’ but there is an asterisk with an additional requirement
- F - Regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs)
- G - Other
Illustrative Examples
A. The special requirements don’t include ‘or’ or ‘and’
A1.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072).
|
4. |
Plants for planting with roots, grown in open air |
Any third country |
The plants must be accompanied by an official statement that the place of production has been established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM10 as a place of production that is free from Clavibacter sepedonicus (Spieckermann & Kotthoff) Li et al. and Synchytrium endobioticum (Schilbersky) Percival. |
No AD is required as the PC itself confirms that such a requirement is met.
A2.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
93. |
Plants of Cryptocoryne sp. Fischer ex Wydler spp., Hygrophila sp. R. Brown spp. and Vallisneria spp. |
Any third country |
The plants must be accompanied by an official statement that the roots have been subjected to testing for at least nematode pests, of a representative sample, using appropriate methods for the detection of the pests and have been found on those tests to be free from the nematode pests. |
No AD is required as the PC itself confirms that such a requirement is met.
B. The special requirements include ‘and’
When 'and' is used between the paragraphs in the special requirements all points must be met for the PC to be issued.
B1.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
21. |
Tubers of Solanum tuberosum L., for planting, other than tubers of those varieties officially accepted on to the GB Variety List pursuant to the Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001(4) |
EU Member States, Liechtenstein and Switzerland |
The tubers must be accompanied by an official statement that: (a) they belong to advanced selections, (b) they have been produced in an EU Member State or Switzerland, and (c) they have been derived in direct line from material which has been maintained under appropriate conditions and has been subjected in an EU Member State or Switzerland to official quarantine testing and has been found in those tests to be free from GB quarantine pests. |
No AD is required as all three items a, b and c must be met for the PC to be issued. The certificate itself confirms the three requirements have been met.
B2.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
55. |
Plants, other than fruit or seeds, of Abies Mill., Cedrus Trew, Larix Mill., Picea Mill., Pinus L., Pseudotsuga Carr. and Tsuga Carr. |
Any third country where Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Bührer) Nickle is known to occur |
The plants: (a) must be accompanied by an official statement: (i) that they have been grown in places of production where Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Bührer) Nickle and its symptoms have not been observed since the beginning of the last complete growing cycle, (ii) that they have been grown throughout their life under complete physical protection to prevent Monochamus spp. reaching the plants, (iii) that they have been officially inspected, tested and found free from any Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Bührer) Nickle and Monochamus spp., and (b) must only be transported from those places of production and through areas in which the pest is known to occur outside the flight season of Monochamus spp. or in closed containers or packaging to prevent infestation with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Bührer) Nickle or Monochamus spp. |
As both items (a) and (b), must be met for the PC to be issued, they do not need to be listed in the AD. The certificate itself confirms the two requirements have been met
C. The special requirements include ‘or’
When or is used between paragraphs in the special requirements there are options for what to include in the AD.
C1.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
38. |
Plants for planting, other than seeds, of Chrysanthemum L. Dianthus L. and Pelargonium l’Hérit. ex Ait. |
Any third country |
The plants must be accompanied by: (a) an official statement that they originate in an area* established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM4 as an area that is free from Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), (b) an official statement that no signs of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) or Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) have been observed at the place of production since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetation, or (c) an official statement that the plants have undergone appropriate treatment** to protect them from those pests. * The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”. ** The active ingredient, concentration and date of application of these treatments must be mentioned on the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “disinfestation and/or disinfection treatment”. |
An AD is required on the PC. Any one of items (a), (b) or (c) can be stated in the AD section.
An example of the recommended statement in the AD would be:
‘This consignment complies with Item 38 (a) of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that it originates in an area (insert area) established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM4 as an area that is free from Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval).’
C2.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
103. |
Fruits of Solanum melongena L. |
Any third country other than EU Member States, Liechtenstein and Switzerland |
The fruits must be accompanied by: (a) an official statement that they originate in a country which, in accordance with the measures specified in ISPM4, is known to be free from Thrips palmi Karny, (b) an official statement that they originate in an area* established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM4 as an area that is free from Thrips palmi Karny, or (c) an official statement that immediately prior to their export, they have been officially inspected and found free from Thrips palmi Karny. * The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”. |
An AD is required on the PC. Any one of items (a), (b) or (c) can be stated in the AD section.
An example of the recommended statement in the AD would be:
‘This consignment complies with, item 103 (c) of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that immediately prior to their export, they have been officially inspected and found free from Thrips palmi Karny.’
D. The special requirements include ‘or’ and ‘and’
D1.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
8. |
Plants for planting, other than dormant plants, plants in tissue culture, seeds, bulbs, tubers, corms and rhizomes |
Any third country where any of the following GB quarantine pests are known to occur (“the relevant pests”):
|
The plants must be accompanied by an official statement: (a) in all cases, that no symptoms of the relevant pests have been observed on the plants during their complete cycle of vegetation[2], and (b) in the case of plants originating in any third country where Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) or other vectors of the relevant pests are known to occur, that no symptoms of the relevant pests have been observed on the plants during their complete cycle of vegetation and: (i) that the plants originate in areas which, in accordance with the measures specified in ISPM4, are known to be free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and other vectors of the relevant pests, (ii) that the site of production has been found free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and other vectors of the relevant plant pests on official inspections carried out at appropriate times to detect those pests, or (iii) that the plants have been subjected to an effective treatment ensuring the eradication of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and the other vectors of the relevant pests and have been found free from those pests prior to export. |
An AD is required on the PC only if item (b) is applicable to the consignment. For countries where Bemisia tabaci or other vectors are present, any one of sub-item (i), (ii), or (iii) under (b) must be stated in the AD section. The first paragraph under point (b) does not need to be written as by writing one of the sub-items this implies it has been met. If item (b) is not applicable then no AD is required.
An example of the recommended statement in the AD would be:
‘This consignment complies with, item 8 (b)(i) of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that the plants originate in areas which, in accordance with the measures specified in ISPM4, are known to be free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and other vectors of the relevant pests.’
D2.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
90. |
Plants for planting of Arecaceae (Palmae) having a diameter of the stem at the base of over 5 cm |
Any third country |
The plants must be accompanied by: (a) an official statement that they have been grown throughout their life in a place of production in a country where Paysandisia archon (Burmeister) is not known to occur, (b) an official statement that they have been grown throughout their life in an area* established by the national plant protection organisation in accordance with ISPM4 as an area that is free from Paysandisia archon (Burmeister), or (c) an official statement that they have, during a period of at least two years prior to export, been grown in a place of production: (i) which is registered and supervised by the national plant protection organisation in the country of origin, (ii) where the plants were placed in a site with complete physical protection against the introduction of Paysandisia archon (Burmeister), and (iii) where, during three official inspections per year carried out at appropriate times, including immediately prior to export, no signs of Paysandisia archon (Burmeister) have been observed. * The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration” |
An AD is required on the PC. Any one of items (a), (b) or (c) must be stated on the PC.
An example of the recommended statement in the AD would be:
‘This consignment complies with, item 90 (c) of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that it has, during a period of at least two years prior to export, been grown in a place of production.’
E. The special requirements do not include ‘or’ but there is an asterisk with an additional requirement
You must specify any ADs such as pest free areas, places of production or other details set out in the special requirements denoted by asterisks under the heading AD. These additional requirements must be detailed on the PC even if there are no options in the special requirements.
E1.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
48. |
Plants for planting, other than fruit and seeds, of Quercus L. |
North America |
The plants must be accompanied by an official statement that the plants originate in an area* which, in accordance with the measures specified in ISPM4, is known to be free from Bretziella fagacearum ((Bretz) Z.W. de Beer, Marincowitz, T.A. Duong & M.J. Wingfield.
* The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”. |
An AD is required on the PC.
The recommended statement in the AD is:
‘This consignment complies with, item 48 of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that it originates in an area (insert area) which is known to be free from Bretziella fagacearum (Bretz) Z.W. de Beer, Marincowitz, T.A. Duong & M.J. Wingfield.’
E2.
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
|
88. |
Plants, other than seeds and plants in tissue culture, of Rosa spp., L. |
Canada, India, Mexico and the USA |
The plants must be accompanied by an official statement: (a) that they have been grown throughout entire their life in an area* established by the national plant protection organisation in the country of origin in accordance with ISPM4 as free from Rose Rosette Virus and Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer, and (b) that they have been packed to prevent infestation by Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer during transport. * The name of the area(s) must be included in the phytosanitary certificate under the heading “Additional declaration”. |
An AD is required on the PC.
An example of the recommended statement in the AD is:
‘This consignment complies with, item 88 (a) of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that it originates in an area (insert area) free from Rose Rosette Virus and Phyllocoptes fructiphilus Keifer.’
F. Regulated non-quarantine pests (RNQPs)
ADs are not required for RNQPs as the requirements will have been met for the PC to be issued. The requirements for RNQPs can be found in Annex 5 to the retained Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
G. Other
Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072)
| 11. | Plants for planting, other than seeds, of Euphorbia pulcherrima Klotzsch and unrooted cuttings for planting of Euphorbia pulcherrima Klotzsch | Any third country |
In the case of plants for which there is evidence from their packaging or their flower (or bract) development or by other means that they are intended for direct sale to final consumers not involved in professional plant production, the plants must be accompanied by an official statement that they have been officially inspected and found free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) prior to their movement. In any other case, the plants must be accompanied by— (a)an official statement that the plants comply with one of the following requirements— (i)they originate in an area which, in accordance with the measures specified in ISPM4, is known to be free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), (ii)they originate in a place of production where no signs of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) have been observed during official inspections carried out at least every three weeks during a period of nine weeks prior to export, or (iii)in cases where Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) has been found at the place of production: (aa)they have undergone an appropriate treatment to ensure freedom from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and (bb)subsequently, official inspections carried out weekly during a period of three weeks prior to export have found the place of production to be free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) as a consequence of the implementation of appropriate procedures aimed at eradicating Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), and (b)an official statement that the cuttings from which those plants originate comply with one of the requirements in point (a). |
An AD is required on the PC.
In the event for which there is evidence from their packaging or their flower (or bract) development ir by other means that they are intended for direct retail sale to final consumers, an example of the recommended statement in the AD is:
'This consignment complies with, item 11 of Annex 7 to Great Britain’s Phytosanitary Conditions Regulation (2019/2072) in that the plants have been officially inspected and found free from Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) prior to their movement'.
In the event for which there is not evidence from their packaging or their flower (or bract) development or by other means that they are intended for direct retail sale to final consumers, then the normal AD requirements apply.
Please note: This document is not legally binding; it is meant purely for information purposes.
[1] See explanatory note on legislation at the end of this document.
[2] Please note there is currently a temporary easement in place for item 8(a) details of which can be found in the GB Special Import Requirements document.