Guidance

Plants and wood that need a plant passport for movement within Great Britain

Updated 7 September 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-plants-plant-products-and-objects-which-need-a-plant-passport-for-movement-within-gb/plants-plant-products-and-other-objects-which-need-a-plant-passport-for-movement-within-great-britain

  1. All plants for planting:

    • plants that have been planted and the intention is for them to remain planted
    • whole plants or living parts of plants (for example, cuttings) that are not planted and the intention is for them to be planted
    • plants that have been lifted and the intention is to replant them

  2. Plants of Abies (fir), Larix (larch), Picea (spruce), Pinus (pine) and Pseudotsuga (Douglas fir) over 3 metres in height. This includes felled or fallen trees, other than fruit, seeds, leaves or foliage.

  3. Wood and wood products from all or part of the following genera or species, other than wood which is bark-free:

    • Pinales (conifer)
    • Castanea (sweet chestnut)

  4. Wood and wood products (with or without bark) from all or part of the following species, including wood which has not kept its natural round surface:

    • Juglans (walnut)
    • Platanus (plane)
    • Pterocarya (wingnut)

  5. Isolated bark of the following genera or species:

    • Pinales (conifer)
    • Castanea (sweet chestnut)
    • Juglans (walnut)
    • Pterocarya (wingnut)

  6. The following seeds:

    • Allium cepa (Onion and shallot)
    • Allium porrum (Leek)
    • Brassica napus (oilseed rape)
    • Brassica rapa (Turnip)
    • Capsicum spp. (Peppers)
    • Castanea (sweet chestnut)
    • Glycine max (Soya bean)
    • Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)
    • Linum usitatissimum (Flax/linseed)
    • Medicago sativa (Lucerne)
    • Phaseolus coccineus (Runner bean)
    • Phaseolus vulgaris (French beans)
    • Pisum sativum (Peas)
    • Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato)
    • Seeds of Solanum tuberosum (True seeds of potato)
    • Sinapis alba (White mustard)
    • Vicia faba for vegetable use (Broad bean)

  7. Exceptions for movement of seed

    For certain types of movement of seed, you do not need a plant passport. These include:

    • the supply of seed to official testing and inspection bodies
    • the supply of seed for processing and packaging
    • the supply of seed for the production of certain agricultural raw materials, or seed propagation for that purpose
    • the movement of seed intended for scientific purposes, selection work and other test or trial purposes
    • the movement of seeds not yet finally certified
    • the movement of species for which the UK has a marketing derogation
    • movement of seed intended for export outside of the EU

  8. Pest free areas

    Additional requirements apply to movements of specified plants and seeds into and within certain pest free areas within Great Britain.

Read guidance on how to issue UK plant passports for plants.

Read guidance on how to issue UK plant passports for regulated wood, wood products and bark.

Contact your local Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) for further details.

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