Apply for a manual release of certain plant, animal and food products
The Border Trade Matching Service (BTMS) formerly Automatic Licence Verification System (ALVS) and EU CERTEX Manual release request form has been added. Guidanc...
Plant Health
Latest Plant Health advice and guidance
FPC member only content
FPC Supports De-Regulation of Helicoverpa armigera - Stakeholder Response
3 September 2025
Plant Health
Windsor Framework Phase 3: Products that need individual product labels from 1 July 2025
1 May 2025
Post Brexit Border Strategy
Plant Health
Regulation
FPC member only content
FPC Consultation Response to EFRA Call for Evidence on Biosecurity Measures
31 January 2025
Consultations
Post Brexit Border Strategy
Trade
Plant Health
FPC member only content
FPC Technical Meeting Presentation and Minutes 14th November 2024
21 November 2024
Post Brexit Border Strategy
Trade
Plant Health
Food safety
Regulation
Imports
FPC Meeting Minutes
Plant Health Campaigns
Plant Health News
EFRA finds commercial animal and plant imports system is ‘inadequate’ as banned products pass border unchecked
Following continued Fresh Produce Consortium feedback and written evidence, the EFRA Committee has published its Report into the Border Management Process to da...
Removal of prohibition on exports of Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea, Sorbus aucuparia, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Populus tremula and Taxus baccata from the UK to the EU legislation published
The legislation to remove the prohibition on exports of Cornus alba, Cornus sanguinea, Sorbus aucuparia, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Populus tremula and Taxus ...
Priorities for a UK-EU SPS agreement - Call for Evidence
On 19 May 2025, leaders from the UK and EU met in London for the first formal bilateral meeting since the UK’s departure. In that meeting, both parties agreed t...
Plant Health Fee Increase Consultation Update
FPC continues to apply pressure for a decision regarding proposed Plant Health Fee increases following a consultation earlier in the year. The following respons...
World-Leading Border? It’s a World-Class Embarrassment, Blasts FPC
In an unflinching statement, FPC delivers a scathing indictment of the Government’s failure to act, accusing ministers of abandoning growers, wholesalers, and i...
EFRA Committee holds the final evidence session of its biosecurity at the border focus 6th May 2.30pm
Tuesday 6 May at 2.30pm, Committee Room 6, Palace of WestminsterWatch live on parliamentlive.tv The EFRA Committee holds the final evidence session of its b...
Update to Phytosanitary Control Measures: onions
This update is due to the Department for Business and Trade correcting their dataset entry in respect of measure type 360 - Phytosanitary Certificate (import). ...
Outdated EPPO codes in the Plant Health Export Service (PHES)
APHA have identified that there are a few EPPO codes in PHES that have been replaced or archived by EPPO services. Until these inactive codes are removed or upd...
26 tonnes of Illegal Plant Protection Products seized in France and Spain
Law enforcement from France and Spain, supported by Europol, have arrested 29 members of a criminal organisation for selling illegal plant protection products. ...
Chance to participate in Environmental Improvement Plan review
As you may know, last summer Defra’s Secretary of State announced a review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23). We are developing a new, statutory pla...
Estimated Operating Costs of Sevington BCP published
Defra used the estimated operating costs of the government-run Sevington Border Control Post for the 2024 to 2025 financial year to calculate the common user c...
Defra Plant Health Fee Increase Consultation - Due 21 March 2025
Defra England and Wales have launched a consultation relating to Plant Health fees. The intention is that fees will be amended to provide full cost recovery (as...
Spain Imports Moving to ePhyto
IPAFFS will soon have the functionality to support your import notification process with an ePhyto. In the coming weeks you will be able to process your CHED PP...
Changes to Plant health legislation from 30 Jan 2025
The GB Plant Health Service have introduced legislation here that will come into force from 30 January 2025. Risk assessments are a dynamic process, so all comm...
Changes to EU Export Additional Declarations for Plants for Planting from 6 July 2026
From 6 July 2026 onwards, non-EU trading partners are requested to specify in full wording under the heading ´Additional Declaration´ of the phytosanitary certi...
Biosecurity at the border - EFRA Call For Evidence due 29 Jan 2025
There is a call for evidence to examine animal and plant biosecurity measures for personal and commercial imports to the UK. The Committee will examine both the...
The List of Authorised Distance Plant Sellers (LADPS)
The introduction of new Smarter Rules for Safer Food regulations in December 2019 brought the plant internet and mail order trade into the Plant Passporting (PP...
Ornamental grower survey: Deadline for replies extended
APHA invite you to take part in an important survey of ornamental commercial growers. This will improve understanding of the barriers to, and costs of, reportin...
DEFRA BTOM Proposed Legislative Changes - Comment 28/01/25
Defra have issued the following document for comment by 28/01/2025. FPC have looked at this and have further questions for clarity in relation to the risk based...
Change to EU SPS inspection frequency for tomato, pepper, aubergine & cucumber plants
Import inspection frequencies are kept under constant review considering the current risk position. The UK Plant Health Risk Group has reviewed the position for...
Conifer Import Reminder
If you are importing cut conifer trees less than 3m in height or foliage from the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein to GB, you will need to obtain a Phytosanitar...
How to comply with the BTOM and the new import controls that are now in place
The following summary has been provided by Defra as a guide to meeting EU import controls1. Register for IPAFFS online on GOV UK if you haven’t already done s...
Update on physical and identity checks for non-qualifying goods moving from the island of Ireland to Great Britain
Defra have confirmed that physical and identity checks on non-qualifying goods moving from the island of Ireland to Great Britain will not start during 2024. D...
Emerald Ash Borer Call for Comments
There is a current call for comments on a proposed change to the regulation of host species associated with Agrilus planipennis (Emerald Ash Borer). Please see ...
Stakeholder engagement on the regulation of conifer plants
Due to changes in taxonomy, all conifer species are now encompassed at the class level (Pinopsida) rather than the order level (Pinales). However, GB legislatio...
Plant Health Legislation - Reminder for 9th November 2024
From 9 November 2024, the remaining changes will come into force. This includes: Listing certain pests, based on preliminary assessments, as provisional quarant...
Phytosanitary Certificate for Trees less than 3m
If you are importing cut conifer trees less than 3m in height or foliage from the EU, Switzerland or Liechtenstein to GB, you will need to obtain a Phytosanitar...
APHA advice for Packing and Loading plants and plant products
Guidance has been developed to support trade regarding safe and effective packaging and loading of loose loads (plants and plant products) to ensure that effici...
Introduction of PHEATS for Ware potatoes
Ware potato exporters can now use the Plant Health Exports Audited Trader Scheme (PHEATS) to help with their exports. PHEATS is a trade facilitation scheme for...
Confirmation of Inspection Frequencies for Non-Woody Plants for UK Edible Horticultural Crops
FPC received confirmation from Defra on 25th September 2024 relating to the inspection frequencies for Non-woody plants being imported into the UK. The statemen...
Requirement for all ware potato growers to be registered with APHA in England and Wales
Over the coming weeks APHA will be working with key potato stakeholders across England and Wales to ensure all ware potato growers are aware of existing plant h...
Defra Call for Comments on Large Plants / Machinery inspection at BCP / IC's and CP's
We would like to notify you of a call for comments on the proposal to introduce a derogation from the minimum designation requirements at Border Control Posts, ...
FPC Interpretation Guide to Medium Risk A & B EU Fresh Produce Categories
The UK Government have now released all information relating to the finalised SPS controls of Medium Risk Fruit & Vegetables being imported into the UK from...
Defra Announce Changes to Medium Risk Fruit & Vegetable Products
After further scientific review of commodities across all plant and plant product risk categories, there will be changes to the risk categorisation of certain p...
Defra Confirm extension of easement for Medium Risk Fruit & Vegetables to 1 July 2025
After many months of lobbying, FPc today received the following communication from Defra, "I am emailing to notify you of a change to the current BTOM timeline...
Labelling requirements for certain products moving from GB to retail premises in NI under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme
On 9th June 2023, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published guidance on labelling requirements for certain products moving from Great Bri...
High Risk Plant dossiers for exports to the EU and Northern Ireland - DEFRA Update
Over the last 3 years Defra worked with a group of stakeholders to submit the technical dossiers required to initiate the process of obtaining derogations from ...
Northern Ireland Round Up of Information and Contacts
Please find an attachment which outlines a recent change to the NI HRFNAO amendments - there is a removal of a range of products from Annex 1, as well as a numb...
2024 IPPC ISPM consultation period - closes 31 July 2024
This year’s IPPC ISPM consultation period is now open. Please find attached a letter and template with more information regarding the consultation. Consultation...
BTOM SPS charges explained
There are two standard charges associated with imports of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods and the BTOM: a Border Control Post (BCP) charge by point of en...
Contact Points for Port Health Authorities
Contact points for consignments held at a BCP If you receive notification about a consignment or load that has been called for checks or has been held at the B...
The BTOM is now live – CHED completion reminder and no-match guidance
As of 30 April, HMRC and Defra systems are cross-checking the CHED import notification and customs declaration for each consignment of goods subject to SPS cont...