Wholesalers in the Netherlands and in other EU countries buy plants in Pistoia for their own customers in the UK. The order itself is straightforward. What needs checking before it is placed is who prepares which document, and which of those documents Vivai Reali can speak for.
Vivai Reali is a producing nursery in Pistoia, since 1978, on 30 hectares. It supplies trade buyers: nurseries, garden centres, landscapers and resellers. No retail.
The Checklist
- 1. Species, form, size, quantity. Who: Buyer with Vivai Reali; What to check: Look at the Stock List, then confirm with the sales team before the delivery window you need
- 2. Load. Who: Buyer with Vivai Reali; What to check: Full and partial loads; volumes and minimum quantities are agreed per enquiry
- 3. Incoterms. Who: Buyer with Vivai Reali; What to check: EXW / FCA ex-nursery Pistoia as standard; DAP for established partner accounts, with the delivery destination agreed per account
- 4. Lead time. Who: Vivai Reali; What to check: 1-2 weeks from order confirmation as standard, longer in the spring and autumn peaks
- 5. From Italy to another EU country. Who: Vivai Reali; What to check: Shipments between EU member states travel under the EU plant passport system
- 6. From that country to the UK. Who: Wholesaler; What to check: Check the export requirements with the plant health authority of the country you ship from (in the Netherlands: the NVWA) and the UK import requirements on the UK Plant Health Portal (planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk)
- 7. UK risk category. Who: Wholesaler; What to check: Check the current category of each species on the UK Plant Health Portal before ordering
- 8. IPAFFS pre-notification. Who: UK importer or customs agent; What to check: Completed on the UK side, before the consignment reaches the UK Border Control Post
What Vivai Reali Can State, and What It Cannot
When Vivai Reali ships to the UK itself, it prepares the phytosanitary certificate and any Additional Declarations, and the standard 1-2 week lead time includes phytosanitary certification. That is the case the Vivai Reali articles on BTOM rules and IPAFFS pre-notification describe.
When the plants first go to a wholesaler in another EU country and are re-exported from there, the export documents for the UK are issued in that country. Vivai Reali does not prepare them and this article does not set out the rules: the wholesaler and the authorities of the country of dispatch are the right source. If the timing of an order depends on it, ask the sales team at enquiry stage how a different routing changes the lead time.
Before You Send an Enquiry
- Name the species, the form (for example a tall-stem pleached tree or a hedging plant), the pot size or girth and the quantity.
- Say which route you plan: ex-nursery collection (EXW/FCA) or delivery (DAP, established partner accounts).
- Say where the plants are going and who will be the importer of record in the UK.
- Prices are provided after the buyer is qualified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a wholesaler outside Italy buy from Vivai Reali for resale in the UK?
Vivai Reali supplies trade buyers: nurseries, garden centres, landscapers and resellers. It does not sell at retail. Enquiries are handled by the sales team, with prices provided after the buyer is qualified.
Which Incoterms does Vivai Reali use?
Standard Incoterms are EXW/FCA ex-nursery Pistoia. DAP is available for established partner accounts.
What is the lead time?
Vivai Reali’s standard lead time is 1-2 weeks from order confirmation, longer in the spring and autumn peaks. For shipments Vivai Reali sends to the UK itself, that period includes phytosanitary certification.
Is there a minimum order?
Vivai Reali accommodates both full and partial loads. Volumes and minimum quantities are agreed per enquiry.
Does Vivai Reali complete the IPAFFS pre-notification?
No. The IPAFFS pre-notification is completed on the UK side by the importer or the customs agent. Vivai Reali handles the phytosanitary documentation for its own UK consignments.
Can I get support choosing species, formats and quantities?
Yes. Vivai Reali’s staff are available for information and support on availability, formats, documentation and shipment planning. For enquiries and quotes: contact us.
