What is ePhtyo for movements to Northern Ireland?

ePhyto is a new technology that transitions paper Phytosanitary Certificates, and all the information on them into electronic equivalents. ePhytos are replacing paper Phytosanitary Certificates for movements from England & Wales to Northern Ireland.

Why does this not apply to goods moving from Scotland to Northern Ireland?

Currently, Scotland does not have access to the export system PHES. Please see this page for additional information: Exporting - mygov.scot

When was it introduced?

ePhyto for movements to Northern Ireland was rolled out from January 2025.

How does it work?

The end-to-end process is outlined in the below image:

What do I need to send my importer/importing agent in Northern Ireland?

You will get automatic updates on the progress of your ePhyto application via email. You will need to send your importer/importing agent the Phytosanitary Certificate number, and the date of issuance. These can be found by clicking the relevant APHA reference link on your ‘Your Applications’ page on PHES.

Please note that your ePhyto must have the ‘ePhyto received’ status before these details appear.

Where can I find my ePhyto?

You will be able to access a copy of your ePhyto application from your ‘Your Applications’ page on PHES and then clicking the green ‘view copy’ button. This is a copy and not for official use.

Please note that your ePhyto must have the ‘ePhyto received’ status before the copy appears.

Where can I find guidance on using ePhyto?

Please see this link for written guidance on how to apply for an ePhyto on PHES: APPLY-ePHYTO-NI-170125-v1.5.pdf

Will ePhyto cost me more money?

No, regular fees and charges still apply.

Can I still move my goods using the Northern Ireland Plant Health Labelling (NIPHL) scheme?

Yes. The NIPHL scheme provides growers and traders the option to move plant products and other goods from GB to NI without requiring a Phytosanitary Certificate. You will need to apply for an ePhyto or use NIPHL, you do not need to do both. Please refer to this page for additional guidance: The Northern Ireland Plant Health Label - UK Plant Health Information Portal

What about postal exports?

Postal exports to Northern Ireland still require a paper Phytosanitary Certificate to be attached to the outside of the package.

When else will paper Phytosanitary Certificates still be issued?

A paper Phytosanitary Certificate will still be issued If your goods are transiting through the Republic of Ireland, or if they have undergone chemical treatment via pesticides or fungicides.

In some instances, technical problems may delay an ePhyto being received by Northern Ireland. If this delay elapses five hours, the ePhyto will be issued as a paper Phytosanitary Certificate instead. You will receive an automatic email explaining this, and you can expect a scanned copy to be emailed to you and a paper copy to be sent to you by post.

How can I track my ePhtyo’s progress?

You will get automatic emails when your ePhyto is received by Northern Ireland, and if there are any technical problems resulting in delays. You can also see the status of your application by logging onto PHES.

Can I opt out of automatic updates?

Yes, this can be done by clicking on the ‘Manage Account’ link at the top of the ‘Your Applications’ page on PHES.

Will a copy of the original Phytosanitary Certificate still need to be printed and sent to the APHA offices?

No, you won't need to print them out and send them to the APHA offices.  The original Phytosanitary Certificate, which is now the electronic version, will have been sent directly to APHA.