Plant passports for selling plants and seeds online

These rules apply in England, Scotland and Wales.

Who needs a plant passport

If you trade plants as a business, you are a professional operator. A professional operator must not move regulated plants within Great Britain without a UK plant passport.

Selling regularly for profit, running a website or social media account for trading plants, keeping a price list and advertising plants regularly all point to a business. Giving away surplus plants, or charging only postage, does not make you a professional operator.

Selling to home gardeners

You need no passport for plants you supply directly to a final user. A final user is a private individual buying for personal use, including a home gardener. The exemption does not cover distance contracts or sales to businesses.

Before your first online sale

Register first, then get authorised. Only an authorised operator can issue passports.

Authorisation includes an inspection, so apply well before the spring selling season.

Once you are authorised, you can ask APHA to add your business to its list of authorised distance plant sellers. The list shows your trade name, city and APHA customer reference number.

Sending passports with orders

The passport can be attached to the plant, its container or the outside of the box, or travel as a delivery note inside the package. Keep records of the passports you issue.

Planned UK-EU agreement

The UK and EU are negotiating an agreement under which EU plant passports would replace UK ones. Until it is in force, UK plant passports apply.

If you break the rules

Moving regulated plants without a passport, issuing passports without authorisation and failing to register are criminal offences.

Where to get help

Ask APHA about registration, authorisation and whether a plant or seed needs a passport. In Scotland, ask the Scottish Government plant health team. In Northern Ireland, ask DAERA.