The EU Plant Passport: A Guarantee for Healthy Plants in Your Home

Since December 14, 2019, the EU Plant Passport has become an indispensable document in the trade of plants and plant products within the European Union. This passport plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of harmful organisms across national borders and ensuring plant health. It allows for seamless traceability of trade routes back to their origin, enabling quick response and containment in the event of pest infestation.

Every company that trades plants and plant products within the EU must be registered and issue a plant passport for certain products. This also applies to online trade and distance selling – a direct consequence of the new regulation is that private individuals can now come into contact with a plant passport when purchasing plants online.

What must a plant passport include?

A plant passport is more than just a piece of paper – it contains essential information:

  • EU flag and the designation "Plant Passport": These elements are found in the upper area of the passport. The EU flag can be displayed in color or black and white.
  • Botanical name of the plant (Letter A): This information must be precise to accurately identify the plant.
  • Registration number of the operation (Letter B): Each operation receives a unique number, enabling clear traceability.
  • Traceability code (Letter C): This individual code allows tracking the plant's journey from the producer to the end customer.
  • Country of origin (Letter D): The indication of the country from which the plant originates is crucial for assessing the phytosanitary risk.

Registered operations must not only correctly issue and attach the plant passport but also critically monitor their production processes and the movement of their goods. This includes inspecting the plants for pests and diseases, training staff, and documenting control results.

When you buy plants marked with an EU Plant Passport, you can be sure they have been thoroughly inspected for pests and diseases and are healthy. The passport offers transparency about the origin of the plants and helps prevent the spread of plant diseases and pests. Ultimately, the EU Plant Passport supports not only plant health but also the protection of biodiversity and natural ecosystems in Europe.

In a world where the protection and preservation of our plant life is becoming increasingly important, the EU Plant Passport represents a significant step towards a more sustainable trade and consumption of plants. As a responsible plant enthusiast, your purchasing decisions contribute to supporting this system.

Frequently asked questions/FAQ

The EU Plant Passport is a document that certifies the phytosanitary safety of plants and plant products traded within the European Union. It serves for traceability and aims to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

The plant passport was introduced to protect plant health within the EU and prevent the spread of harmful organisms across national borders. It enables quick traceability and containment in case of pest infestation.

No, not every plant requires a plant passport. The obligation applies to all plants intended for planting and certain seeds traded within the EU, but not for direct sales to consumers, except in online trade and distance selling.

The plant passport may be attached directly to the plant, the plant pot, or the packaging. For online purchases or distance selling, it can also be included with the delivery documents.

Every plant passport contains an EU flag, the designation “Plant Passport,” the botanical name of the plant (A), the registration number of the operation (B), a traceability code (C), and the country of origin of the plant (D). These details help to precisely identify the plant and trace its journey.

If you suspect that a plant, which should require a plant passport, does not have one, you should address the seller. It could be an oversight or indicate a problem with the plant health.

For private border crossings within the EU, it is usually no problem to take plants without a plant passport, as long as they are intended for personal use. However, special regulations may apply for certain plant species or quantities and for travel to or from specific areas.

The monitoring and control of the plant passport system are the responsibility of the national plant protection organizations in the respective EU member states. They conduct regular inspections at operations authorized to issue plant passports.

If a pest posing a risk to plant health is discovered on a plant, the plant passport allows for quick traceability back to the originating operation. The affected operation can then take appropriate measures to prevent the spread.

By preventing the spread of harmful organisms, the plant passport contributes to the protection of native plant species and ecosystems. Healthy plants promote biodiversity and support ecosystem functions, such as pollination and habitat maintenance.