Importing seeds from the EU to the UK

[LHMBB]

I'm not sure which of these dates may effect seed imports but 31st January looks like the first date things may change (taken from the Grocer)


The border target operating model will implement controls through three major milestones:

31 January 2024: The introduction of health certification on imports of medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU
30 April 2024: The introduction of documentary and risk-based identity and physical checks on medium risk animal products, plants, plant products and high risk food (and feed) of non-animal origin from the EU
31 October 2024: Safety and security declarations for EU imports will come into force from 31 October 2024. Alongside this, government will introduce a reduced dataset for imports and use of the UK single trade window will remove duplication where possible across different pre-arrival datasets.

[SimonT]

Thanks for proving this information. For more details see
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ugust-2023

[Pattock]

Thanks for proving this information. For more details see
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ugust-2023

The relevant part being:

Page 51, 167. The Border Target Operating Model sets out the requirement for commercial imports
of plants and plant products into Great Britain. We are considering whether any of
these controls can be disapplied to small quantities intended for personal use and will
announce the outcome shortly.

So, still up in the air. They may be be considering removing some controls for hobby amounts for import from the whole world, not just Europe. Lobbying by specialist societies may be decisive.

[esp]

On a very quick read through, I didn't see anything suggesting that a Phyto certificate will be needed for importing cactus or succulent seeds from the EU.

[SimonT]

I was wondering what happens if you import CITES 1 cactus seed? Does the Phyto still serve as the CITES
documentation and what is the procedure? I'm not planning to do this sort of order myself anytime soon but it would be nice to have clarity.

[LHMBB]

I don't have the link but I recall seeing that there is a joint Cites/Phytosanitary certificate in these cases to reduce paperwork

[DaveW]

Looking for something else I was surprised to find this dated January 2023. Have regulations changed since January and was this correct at the time?

https://www.necps.org/bring-your-cactus ... -airplane/

Seems more appropriate from when the UK was still in the EU when many brought back plants in their suitcases by air and they all passed baggage x-ray OK?

[Pattock]

Looking for something else I was surprised to find this dated January 2023. Have regulations changed since January and was this correct at the time?

https://www.necps.org/bring-your-cactus ... -airplane/

That article has all the signs of being AI-generated garbage.

[MatDz]

Looking for something else I was surprised to find this dated January 2023. Have regulations changed since January and was this correct at the time?

https://www.necps.org/bring-your-cactus ... -airplane/

This is discussing traveling with plants from the UK back to the US, it also leaves things pretty open:

Furthermore, you should check with the UK Border Force to make sure there are no restrictions in place for taking a cactus on a flight. With the correct paperwork and preparation, you should be able to take your cactus on a plane in the UK.

I am also not sure why a carnivorous plants society(?) bothers with articles about cacti.

[AllanA]

When I fly from Kirkwall to Edinburgh I have a bag full of succulents- Haworthias), which I take into the cabin with me. The person on the Xray does not queery what is in my bag.
Edinburgh's airport xray people also do not queery on my return trip.