Under the UK’s Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), most ornamental plants imported from EU producers — hedging, topiary, conifers, shrubs — are classified as medium or high risk for plants for planting. This classification triggers a documentary requirement: a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) must accompany every consignment entering Great Britain.
For UK buyers who have not previously imported plants directly from EU producers, or who are reviewing their import compliance following recent regulatory changes, this guide sets out how phytosanitary certificates work, what they cover, who is responsible for obtaining them, and what buyers need to provide to their supplier.
What Is a Phytosanitary Certificate?
A phytosanitary certificate is an official document issued by the national plant health authority of the exporting country. It certifies that the plant material in a consignment:
- Has been inspected by an authorised plant health inspector
- Meets the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country (in this case, the United Kingdom)
- Is free from quarantine pests specified by the importing authority, or has been treated to the required standard
For EU-to-UK exports of ornamental plants, the certificate is issued by the competent plant health authority in the country of export — in Italy, this is the regional plant health service operating within the national SQNPI framework. The certificate is issued per consignment, following a physical inspection of the plant material at the nursery or point of export.
What the Phytosanitary Certificate Contains
A standard phytosanitary certificate for ornamental plant exports to the UK includes:
- Description of the consignment: species, quantity, container sizes, gross weight
- Country of origin and place of production
- Treatment declarations where applicable (fumigation, heat treatment, etc.)
- Additional Declarations (ADs): species-specific attestations required by the UK plant health authority, such as freedom from quarantine pests
Additional Declarations: The Xylella Fastidiosa Requirement
For many ornamental plant species exported from Italy, the phytosanitary certificate must include an Additional Declaration attesting that the production site, or the area of production, is free from Xylella fastidiosa — a bacterial pathogen on the UK’s quarantine pest list that affects a wide range of host plant species.
Italian nurseries producing in Pistoia are in the northern part of Tuscany, a region that has remained free from Xylella fastidiosa which has affected parts of Puglia in southern Italy. Vivai Reali coordinates with the plant health authority to ensure the required ADs are prepared and included in every phytosanitary certificate for UK export.
Who Is Responsible for the Phytosanitary Certificate?
The exporting nursery — not the UK importer — is responsible for obtaining the phytosanitary certificate in the country of export. The certificate is issued by the plant health authority in the exporting country following an inspection of the consignment.
The UK importer is responsible for:
- IPAFFS pre-notification (submitted via the UK Government’s IPAFFS system before the consignment arrives at a UK Border Control Post)
- Providing the importer name, UK delivery address and IPAFFS reference number to the supplier before despatch
- Engaging a customs agent or broker to handle UK-side import formalities
How Vivai Reali Manages Documentation for UK Buyers
Phytosanitary documentation is part of Vivai Reali’s standard export process for all UK consignments. This includes:
- Coordination with the regional plant health authority in Tuscany for phytosanitary certificate issuance
- Preparation of required Additional Declarations for each species in the consignment
- Making the certificate and documentation available to the buyer’s customs agent or broker ahead of Border Control Post arrival
The phytosanitary inspection and certification process is included within Vivai Reali’s standard 1–2 week order-to-despatch lead time. During spring and autumn peak periods, lead times extend and are agreed at order confirmation.
Annalisa, Vivai Reali’s commercial contact for the UK and French markets, works with UK buyers regularly and can advise on the specific documentation requirements for the species in a planned order.
What the UK Importer Needs to Provide
Before Vivai Reali can despatch a consignment to the UK, the buyer needs to provide:
1. Importer name and UK delivery address (for inclusion on the phytosanitary certificate)
2. IPAFFS pre-notification reference — or confirm that their customs agent has submitted the pre-notification before despatch
For buyers new to direct import from Italy who have not previously used IPAFFS or engaged a customs broker for plant imports, Annalisa and the commercial team can provide practical guidance based on Vivai Reali’s existing UK trade relationships.
Medium Risk vs. High Risk: Does the Category Matter?
Under the BTOM, both medium and high risk plants require a phytosanitary certificate. The main practical differences between categories are:
- High risk plants are subject to mandatory physical checks at UK Border Control Posts
- Medium risk plants are subject to documentary and identity checks, with physical checks applied to a proportion selected for inspection
- High risk consignments may have higher inspection fees at the BCP than medium risk
The risk category for specific species should be verified via the UK Plant Health Portal (planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk) before ordering, as classifications can change.
Ireland: No Phytosanitary Certificate Required
Republic of Ireland buyers importing plants from Italy do not require a phytosanitary certificate. Ireland’s continued EU membership means intra-EU trade in ornamental plants is governed by the EU plant passport system — not the UK BTOM regime. Plant passports are issued by the nursery and attached to the plants rather than to the consignment as a whole.
This makes direct procurement from Italian producers simpler, faster and less administratively demanding for Irish buyers than for their counterparts in Great Britain.
Check Stock Before Enquiring
Current availability across Vivai Reali’s ornamental plant range is published in real time on the B2B Stock List on infoplant.
→ View Stock List — current availability
