Author Topic: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU  (Read 5330 times)

polux

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • Slovakia, Nitra, 6a
    • View Profile
New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« on: December 30, 2019, 03:00:54 PM »
On 14 December, a new EU regulation which regulating the import of live plant material came into force. According to the local authority of our country, the phyto must already be attached to a shipment of seeds from a third country even in small quantities. This complicates the situation not only at the exit from the exporting country (situation in Brasil) but especially at the entry into the EU. I wonder if other EU members have noticed the application of these new rules, or whether these rules apply equally in each EU country? I also have a question to sellers - who of you can attach phyto to a seed shipment to EU destinations?

SeaWalnut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1397
    • Romania zone 6
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2019, 05:48:44 PM »
I think im lucky here in Romania because the post and customs cant handle the big ammount of packages and they dont usually inspect small packages wich they think are too cheap to worth calling the recipient( in case it doesnt say on the package that there are seeds there).

polux

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • Slovakia, Nitra, 6a
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2020, 11:48:01 AM »
Yes, you must be lucky when the seeds will pass without beeing sized but it will not resolve the problem - how to get the smaller amount of seeds legally and from sellers who cannot provide fyto...

shiro

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 156
    • France La Rochelle
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2020, 05:36:19 PM »
In France as in Romania for Seawalnut the post does not have a problem but the laws indicate nevertheless certain prohibitions for some species if there is a risk of spreading diseases.
Normally the seeds pass easily with also fruits and scionwood except for plants in containers.

But now the laws in Europe have been strengthened and even more so.
It is true that you raise a big question Polux because even within the country for me within France.
The phyto is said to be obligatory even for a shipment to a neighbour must in principle have the phyto.



polux

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • Slovakia, Nitra, 6a
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2020, 02:27:19 PM »
So far there has been no problem in Slovakia with seeds only live plants need the phyto. However, it has change since december. Only the following months will show how difficult these changes will be.

Ataman

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 80
  • I'm fruit lover. I try to grow every type of fruit
    • Hungary, Zone 6b
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2020, 01:22:05 PM »
Hi,


As I've read in the decree there are some exception:
- you can bring in EU from third country fruits of pineapple, coconut,bananas,durian and date.
- processed products,such as dried fruit, jam
-plant products from Switzerland

But in the document is a listing about genera which need phytosanitary document. These are :
Aegle 
 Aeglopsis
,Afraegle
 Atalantia 
Balsamocitrus   
Burkillanthus
 Calodendrum 
Choisya
Clausena 
Limonia
 Microcitrus 
Murraya
 Pamburus 
Severinia   
Swinglea 
Triphasia 
 Vepris
Citrus
Fortunella 
 Poncirus 
Microcitrus   
 Naringi
Swinglea and hybrids
Momordica 
Solanaceae 
Actinidia 
Annona   
 Carica  papaya   
Cydonia   
Diospyros
 Fragaria
Malus 
Mangifera
Passiflora
 Persea  americana
Prunus
Psidium   
Pyrus   
Ribes 
Rubus   
Syzygium 
Vaccinium   
Vitis 
Arbutus unedo
Punica granatum from these african countries: Madagascar,Reunion, Mauritius, Saint Helena,Cape Verde and Israel.
Ficus carica

These genera must always be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. Both living plants and seeds.
But I think it possible to  bring  Plinia,Myrciaria,Campomanesia, Eugenia etc.  plants and seeds to EU.
I will try to buy Plinia seeds from outside of EU.

shiro

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 156
    • France La Rochelle
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2020, 02:51:29 PM »
Interesting that it's actually the same on my side.

A colleague has told me that this applies mainly to professionals and that if it were also applicable to amateurs, however, it would be very difficult to control.

We will see what happens this year, but I doubt whether it will apply to amateurs at the moment.

msk0072

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 777
    • Greece, Crete, Hania, Zone 10b
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #7 on: January 06, 2020, 02:20:40 PM »
Here in Greece they check almost every package outside of EU. If it is with live material (seeds, etc) you have to pay 50 or more Euros for inspection at the entry point plus some taxes for package prices over 25 Euros and they let it pass.
I am looking for some one within EU who can receive my seeds and forward to me, haha !!
Mike

Honza P

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
    • Czech republic, Prague (Zone 6/7a)
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #8 on: January 07, 2020, 11:56:33 AM »
So we are not able to send plants in our country anymore (officially). We have to have a permission or the plant can be confiscated and there is also a chance to pay penalty 2000 CZK (80€ +-). And It's same for international shipping. What about Slovakia? Are there simmilar rules Polux? It's new and It's a huge complication for growers, small e-shops....


00christian00

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 317
    • Italy, Zone 9a
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #9 on: January 07, 2020, 12:13:48 PM »
So we are not able to send plants in our country anymore (officially). We have to have a permission or the plant can be confiscated and there is also a chance to pay penalty 2000 CZK (80€ +-). And It's same for international shipping. What about Slovakia? Are there simmilar rules Polux? It's new and It's a huge complication for growers, small e-shops....
Do you mean even within your country it is forbidden?
What the heck are we becoming?

Honza P

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
    • Czech republic, Prague (Zone 6/7a)
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #10 on: January 07, 2020, 12:41:47 PM »
Yep, you must have a phytosanitary passport for shipping any plants in our country. I talked about it with two friends who have an e-shop with exotic plants. Some species will be banned completely, it will not be possible to send them. It is a new regulation from this year. Let's see how it really works

For Czech and Slovakian members: http://eagri.cz/public/web/ukzuz/portal/fytosanitarni-rezim-eu-k-14-12-2019.html?fbclid=IwAR0WgCyN17xKT0c7t8U03y8q4kQN_Q_NxLLmnABCZLMOhn3v_zUCwN9Qht0
« Last Edit: January 07, 2020, 12:45:55 PM by Honza P »

Domnik

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • 7A Poland
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #11 on: January 07, 2020, 12:58:46 PM »
I have read the applicable laws quite thoroughly. In Poland they called it the "Act on the prevention of agro-phages". Who works longer feels what's going on. They hid the general restrictions under the guise of fighting imaginary threats, and most "stuck" all activity on the Internet.

The most painful changes concern online stores. Currently, every plant sold via the Internet (distance contract) must have a passport. It doesn't matter if you are a professional seller or an amateur who has arranged through the forum to exchange plants with a friend elsewhere. You must (on pain of a penalty) attach a passport. Passporting applies to shipments within the EU. For shipments outside Europe, they arrive outside of passporting - the requirements of the specific country to which the shipment is directed. For example, an agreement with the USDA must be attached to the USA, when sent to Japan, it will be a phytosanitary certificate, etc.

Be glad that you can still send plants with restrictions, but you can. In a while, they may even prohibit all plants shipments. The lobby of large producers is on hand to make producers cease to exist. As usual, it's about money and not about any protection. Pests know no borders and do not read permits. All virulent organisms move despite restrictions imposed by humans.

In my country, one wise man said this: now ecologicalism has become a new, dangerous religion which is trying to replace the existing foundation on which Europe (Christianity) was built. Due to such activities, man is as if in second place - ecology is more important. People are trying to impose certain solutions, thinking of the fact that they will avoid the problems of cyclical climate change or natural pest moving. Unfortunately, they are nonsense. We are abducted by the ubiquitous bureaucracy which is getting bigger like a snowball.

Who works longer in this profession knows that almost every plant from the market is wearing pests (those that have survived repeated chemization and will show what they can in month or one yer, but will be). It is similar in amateur crops. Pests are a natural and inseparable part of plants (when I write pests, I mean insects that humans consider unnecessary or harmful). How will the situation change after December 14, 2019 in Europe?

Until now, plants with pests were sent without documents, and for free (or only with the name of the plant and documents certifying payment of taxes). Now plants with pests will be sent with tax documents, additional "plant passports" and we will pay extra for it.

The worst part is that the governments is trying to draw new taxes, fees for their ideas from all sides, and few societies express their dissatisfaction. An example would be yellow vests in France. There probably still people have "eggs".

However, this is not enough. With every such stupid change limiting our freedoms, there should be hundreds of thousands or millions of people on the streets of Budapest, Warsaw, Prague or Berlin (in Paris already). Then the rulers, introducing any restrictions or a new tax a thousand times would wonder if it serves people or can it be introduced etc. For now, we have a warning in the form of Brexit that EU policy is one big socialist (sorry for the expression) guano.

Thanks for the time spent reading :)
Patience is a gardener's virtue

Honza P

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
    • Czech republic, Prague (Zone 6/7a)
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #12 on: January 07, 2020, 01:23:28 PM »
So after talking to a friend from the customs, I have new information. And for polux: Yes, It is exactly as you wrote. Yes, it is forbidden to import seeds into the EU from nearby continents (for example from America). All sales of CITES species are newly controlled here, newly also CITES level 2. Other rules apply to e-shops. I can probably continue to post in the EU because I do not have a registered plant trade. But the rules I wrote about above are for eshops. This is also caused by a change in local leadership... :) They want to be visible.

Honza P

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
    • Czech republic, Prague (Zone 6/7a)
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2020, 01:28:20 PM »
I have read the applicable laws quite thoroughly. In Poland they called it the "Act on the prevention of agro-phages". Who works longer feels what's going on. They hid the general restrictions under the guise of fighting imaginary threats, and most "stuck" all activity on the Internet.

The most painful changes concern online stores. Currently, every plant sold via the Internet (distance contract) must have a passport. It doesn't matter if you are a professional seller or an amateur who has arranged through the forum to exchange plants with a friend elsewhere. You must (on pain of a penalty) attach a passport. Passporting applies to shipments within the EU. For shipments outside Europe, they arrive outside of passporting - the requirements of the specific country to which the shipment is directed. For example, an agreement with the USDA must be attached to the USA, when sent to Japan, it will be a phytosanitary certificate, etc.

Be glad that you can still send plants with restrictions, but you can. In a while, they may even prohibit all plants shipments. The lobby of large producers is on hand to make producers cease to exist. As usual, it's about money and not about any protection. Pests know no borders and do not read permits. All virulent organisms move despite restrictions imposed by humans.

In my country, one wise man said this: now ecologicalism has become a new, dangerous religion which is trying to replace the existing foundation on which Europe (Christianity) was built. Due to such activities, man is as if in second place - ecology is more important. People are trying to impose certain solutions, thinking of the fact that they will avoid the problems of cyclical climate change or natural pest moving. Unfortunately, they are nonsense. We are abducted by the ubiquitous bureaucracy which is getting bigger like a snowball.

Who works longer in this profession knows that almost every plant from the market is wearing pests (those that have survived repeated chemization and will show what they can in month or one yer, but will be). It is similar in amateur crops. Pests are a natural and inseparable part of plants (when I write pests, I mean insects that humans consider unnecessary or harmful). How will the situation change after December 14, 2019 in Europe?

Until now, plants with pests were sent without documents, and for free (or only with the name of the plant and documents certifying payment of taxes). Now plants with pests will be sent with tax documents, additional "plant passports" and we will pay extra for it.

The worst part is that the governments is trying to draw new taxes, fees for their ideas from all sides, and few societies express their dissatisfaction. An example would be yellow vests in France. There probably still people have "eggs".

However, this is not enough. With every such stupid change limiting our freedoms, there should be hundreds of thousands or millions of people on the streets of Budapest, Warsaw, Prague or Berlin (in Paris already). Then the rulers, introducing any restrictions or a new tax a thousand times would wonder if it serves people or can it be introduced etc. For now, we have a warning in the form of Brexit that EU policy is one big socialist (sorry for the expression) guano.

Thanks for the time spent reading :)

Yes! It's exactly same here! But after a short talk with my friend from customs office, I have new informations. We will be probably able to send plants (if you don't own an eshop). He is one of those who control and confiscate plants, I would not be afraid to trust him.

They control mainly cactus growers, this hobby is popular in Czechia. They even pick out locations and have a name sheet. (for example, who visited Mexico).
« Last Edit: January 07, 2020, 01:30:30 PM by Honza P »

Domnik

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • 7A Poland
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2020, 02:02:41 PM »
Honza, for now, officials will admonish, not punish, but situations probably will change. Maybe it won't be that bad. I think it might be another dead recipe in some sense. It is hard to imagine that they will open any private packages with plants and check documents :D However, with larger and regular sales, it is worth considering to comply with regulations.
Patience is a gardener's virtue

Honza P

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 37
    • Czech republic, Prague (Zone 6/7a)
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2020, 02:09:37 PM »
Honza, for now, officials will admonish, not punish, but situations probably will change. Maybe it won't be that bad. I think it might be another dead recipe in some sense. It is hard to imagine that they will open any private packages with plants and check documents :D However, with larger and regular sales, it is worth considering to comply with regulations.

Yes, I hope so. But the previous discussion was about importing seeds to EU and this regulation is very strict, I hope that It won't be that bad with shipping plants in EU. It's strict only for eshops (at least in Czechia). This could be different in every country in EU.

00christian00

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 317
    • Italy, Zone 9a
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2020, 02:24:21 PM »
They even pick out locations and have a name sheet. (for example, who visited Mexico).
Woa, that's a new level of stalking.
Sometime I am glad I live in Italy where essentially everybody is an outlaw :D .

00christian00

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 317
    • Italy, Zone 9a
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #17 on: January 07, 2020, 02:28:16 PM »
Honza, for now, officials will admonish, not punish, but situations probably will change. Maybe it won't be that bad. I think it might be another dead recipe in some sense. It is hard to imagine that they will open any private packages with plants and check documents :D However, with larger and regular sales, it is worth considering to comply with regulations.

I am mostly worried about e-shop stopping sales, since I bought 90% of my plants online both in Italy and EU.
I think seeds were prohibited even before here, but nobody gave a damn because I doubt anybody even knew.
Different thing is if sellers within EU refuse to sell because they KNOW about new rules.

Domnik

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • 7A Poland
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #18 on: January 07, 2020, 02:57:54 PM »
Woa, that's a new level of stalking.
Sometime I am glad I live in Italy where essentially everybody is an outlaw :D .
I always knew Italy was cool, but I didn't think it was so cool :)

Quote from: 00christian00

I am mostly worried about e-shop stopping sales, since I bought 90% of my plants online both in Italy and EU.
I think seeds were prohibited even before here, but nobody gave a damn because I doubt anybody even knew.
Different thing is if sellers within EU refuse to sell because they KNOW about new rules.

It will probably take some time before the news spreads and the shops adapt. As you wrote: during this time some will limit sales until they adjust, but in the long run everything will normalize (especially for large online stores that have no way out).

Seeds from EU with transport option only inside EU - with no documents - it is no problem. They are difficult to catch without the cooperation of transport companies (couriers, post offices, etc.), so I would not worry. It is enough to take seeds for an amateur who officials will do nothing. Worse for shipments from outside the EU. Anyway, the main responsibility in this situation is on the side of the sender to the EU, but here can be a psychological effect. Those who respect the law but they don't want to do paperwork or  they will not want to comply with regulations and they will lose parcels as a result of confiscation -  will stop sending to the EU.

One thing seems almost certain to me now: Live products (from internet shops) such as plants and seeds originally from outside EU will be probably unfortunately more expensive this spring or in subsequent seasons. Companies will almost certainly raise prices. It is also difficult for me to imagine that amateurs keep their prices low. Finally, any costs and penalties can also affect them.

Patience is a gardener's virtue

SeaWalnut

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1397
    • Romania zone 6
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #19 on: January 07, 2020, 04:22:40 PM »
Ive just received seeds that need CITES permit without permit but from Portugal not otther continent.
It seems that european ecologists copy the american and australian ecologists wich have the worst practices in the world( not anything politicall here).I consider it a regression except on the case of California wich its good to follow.

polux

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • Slovakia, Nitra, 6a
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #20 on: January 07, 2020, 05:07:34 PM »
2 Honza: It must be an activity of agricultural dept. in your country. I got only warning from officials the new rules for seed imports from 3 country became valid from december 14. Registered plant producers need plant passports for their production for a long time, especialy domestic fruit producers (nontropical). I think that new rules will affect mainly seed imports from 3 countries - all parcels which will be positively indentificated as ,plant material containing, will be destroyed unless phyto will be included. Another thing is that if you order smaller seeds or declaration will be something as decorative necklace pieces custom will let it pass out. We will see...   

lebmung

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1097
    • Romania, Bucharest,7b (inside city 8a)
    • View Profile
    • Plante tropicale
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2020, 08:22:32 AM »
The whole EU as a union becomes more and more of a nonsense every year. New bureaucrats pass laws to regulate every aspect of life. No wonder UK is leaving and probably others will follow. Poor countries from East shut up because they get some leftover money as subsidies while the whole countries are managed by corporations which buy all the agriculture land and cut all the forests. Sure by all means the current strategy is to transform all people into rats working for big corporations. The EU started to about freedom to move thing and people around Europe and make it a open space. EU commission becomes more and more a dictator submitted to corporations, no more freedom, soon they will tell you when to got to toilet and how much water to flush.
They put restrictions on some tropical plants like papayas that have no chance to grow outside in EU even in Spain.

As far as I know if the plants are send within EU as ornamentals, not as fruiting trees they don't actually need passporting.

Domnik

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • 7A Poland
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2020, 02:53:53 PM »
The whole EU as a union becomes more and more of a nonsense every year. New bureaucrats pass laws to regulate every aspect of life. No wonder UK is leaving and probably others will follow. Poor countries from East shut up because they get some leftover money as subsidies while the whole countries are managed by corporations which buy all the agriculture land and cut all the forests. Sure by all means the current strategy is to transform all people into rats working for big corporations. The EU started to about freedom to move thing and people around Europe and make it a open space. EU commission becomes more and more a dictator submitted to corporations, no more freedom, soon they will tell you when to got to toilet and how much water to flush.
They put restrictions on some tropical plants like papayas that have no chance to grow outside in EU even in Spain.
I fully agree with what you wrote.
As far as I know if the plants are send within EU as ornamentals, not as fruiting trees they don't actually need passporting.


You're wrong. Please check with your government sources. From a legal point of view, it doesn't matter what type of plant is in the package. What matters is that it is a plant and the contract is concluded remotely. Plants passporting is mandatory in this case. Due to the aforementioned crazy directive of 14/12/2019, the same guidelines currently apply throughout the all EU countries. Without passports, you can only sell plants in direct sales.

As a curiosity I will write that before the New Year I read the Polish bill related to this directive. Finally, there are several dozen organizations that were asked to submit comments. They wrote back only two (say two). So-called associations take care of people's interests and are interested in their affairs. That's why this mess (EU) can still exist. People have a great deal of what is going on. Anyway, it is not surprising, after the directive describing the curvature of a banana, hardly anyone takes this crap (EU) seriously.

As a second curiosity, I can say that the directive on plants and seeds (and other provisions / directives) in force across the EU from what I know can be challenged by any citizen. Also if anyone feels strong enough, I encourage you to fight "legal" :) You have my support in advance.
Patience is a gardener's virtue

azorean

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 88
    • Portugal, Azores, São Roque do Pico
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #23 on: January 09, 2020, 05:19:25 AM »
oh well this all sounds messy to me. More bureaucratic procedures, exactly what we didn't need!

In the past almost all the seeds and plants I've order from third countries were confiscated by customs when shipped to my address in the Azores (Portugal) - I must be in their blacklist :), but none was confiscated when senty to my address in Belgium... So I started to order seeds to Belgium, germinate them there, let them grow and then take the plants as hand luggage in the flights to the Azores (intra-EU flight). Has worked so far...

I even had my little adventure of plants in the luggage in a flight from Brazil - was also successful but it all depends on your luck! It was very stressful and I do not recomend if you are very fearful of getting caught ;)

T

Domnik

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • 7A Poland
    • View Profile
Re: New rules for the import of live plants and seeds into the EU
« Reply #24 on: January 09, 2020, 05:36:06 AM »
Azorean, at least there wa adventure and adrenaline;) This is priceless.

Please do not quote this but,
I have such a nice idea that we, all of us from EU, exactly how we are sitting here in the forum, send anonymously these morons in Brussels for a few life or dead plants to the addresses of their offices with the with some funny annotation e.g. : WITHOUT PASSPORT you finished bureaucrats:) If you are pretty blonde please kiss me on my a... if you can ;)
« Last Edit: January 09, 2020, 05:40:45 AM by Domnik »
Patience is a gardener's virtue