On this page you can read about:
- Seed
- Import of plants and plant products: How to import plants, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers, trees and agricultural machinery to Denmark/EU from countries outside the EU
- Export of plants and plant passport.
Import of plants and plant products
The EU has common legislation to prevent quarantine pests and other regulated pests from entering the EU. The Danish Agricultural Agency administers this legislation in Denmark and carries out inspections of imported plants and plant products.
In accordance with the CITES-convention on International Trade in endangered species, some endangered plants are moreover subject to trade restrictions. The restrictions shall ensure that importers, traders or tourists do not bring endangered plant species into Denmark unless the CITES regulations are complied with.
Import from non-EU countries to Denmark
A phytosanitary certificate is required for almost all plants and living parts of plants, including all seeds for planting, entering the EU from countries outside the EU. Furthermore, if you wish to import plants covered by CITES, you need to obtain CITES export and import permits.
You may also need to register as an importer and to pre-notify the Danish Agricultural Agency to import certain regulated plants, fruit, vegetables, cut flowers and other objects.
Plant health-regulated materials that require pre-notifications are:
- all plants for planting
- root and tubercle vegetables
- some fruits other than fruit preserved by deep freezing/drying
- some cut flowers
- some seeds, grains and leafy vegetables other than vegetables preserved by deep freezing/drying
- used machinery or vehicles which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes
Some consignments are subjected to obligatory import inspections and import of such consignments must be notified to the Danish Agricultural Agency. Fees are charged for the inspection of each consignment.
Get a Phytosanitary Certificate
A phytosanitary certificate is an official document to be issued by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting third country. The phytosanitary certificate certifies that the import requirements of the EU/Denmark are met, and that the goods covered by the certificate are free from quarantine pests and other regulated pests of plants.
To import regulated plants and plant products, you must get a phytosanitary certificate for each consignment from the NPPO in the country of export.
When importing goods requiring a phytosanitary certificate, it is your responsibility as an importer to ensure that the consignment is accompanied by a valid certificate.
CITES listing for plants such as orchids and cacti
Plants under CITES requirements may need a CITES export and import permit. Traders can check any potential CITES requirements by searching on Species+:
Species+databasen
Further information concerning import of CITES plants are found on the Danish language version of the website of the Danish Agricultural Agency:
The website of the Danish Agricultural Agency
Marketing standards for fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruit and vegetables for consumption must meet EU marketing standards, which are requirements for labelling and quality. The standards apply to fruit and vegetables marketed in the EU, as well as for imported and exported products. The purpose of the EU marketing standards is to secure traceability, and make sure, that products sold in and from EU countries are equal in quality.
All fresh produce must meet the General Marketing Standards, whereas 10 types of products must also meet a set of Specific Marketing Standards; the latter are more detailed for each of the product types, also dividing them into quality classes. All consignments of fresh fruit and vegetables under Specific Marketing Standards are subjected to import inspections and the import must be notified to the Danish Agricultural Agency. No fees are charged for the marketing standard inspections.
Further information concerning marketing standards of fruits and vegetables are found on the Danish language version of the website of the Danish Agricultural Agency:
The website of the Danish Agricultural Agency
Passengers’ luggage and postal parcels
All regulated plants and plant products in passengers’ personal luggage and in postal parcels from countries outside the EU are prohibited from entry into the EU territory, unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. The only exemptions are bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians, which can be brought into the EU without a phytosanitary certificate.
EU countries and territories for which the provisions apply
The plant health legislation applies for all countries outside the EU and also for Ceuta, Melilla, the Canary Islands, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin. This means that a phytosanitary certificate is required, even if the import takes place from these EU territories.
You do not need a phytosanitary certificate when the plants, fruits, vegetables, flowers or seeds are imported from Northern Ireland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
Prohibitions
Certain types of plants are completely prohibited and may not be imported into the EU, if they come from certain countries or parts of the world. This applies to many conifers, citrus plants, certain fruit plants and potatoes etc. An import ban also applies to soil and organic growing media, as well as to certain high-risk plants.
Importers must be registered
All professional operators importing consignments from countries outside the EU must be registered as an importer with the Danish Agricultural Agency. You can find the registration form here:
The website of the Danish Agricultural Agency for registration
Private individuals importing consignments to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate shall not be registered as an importer.
Making a pre-notification in TRACES NT
All consignments subjected to obligatory import inspections must be notified to the Danish Agricultural Agency. The notification must be made in TRACES NT. You can read more about TRACES NT and find user guidance here:
Link to website of the Danish Agricultural Agency about TRACES NT
Consignments must be pre-notified in TRACES NT at least 24 hours before arrival at the border control post.
Consignments of wood and machinery to be imported in a customs-approved port must be pre-notified at least 72 hours before arrival at the border control post.
Fees
You need to pay fees for the inspection of each consignment imported from a country outside the EU. Inspection fees for documentary, identity and physical checks are split. Professional operators are also charged a registration fee on a yearly basis. The fees are described in this statutory order:
Statutory order
More information
For more information on plant imports and legislation, please consult the Danish Guidance on import of plants and plant products:
Danish Guidance on import of plants and plant products
If you need further information in English concerning the Plant Health legislation you can also consult the website of the European Commission:
Commissions website Trade in plants & plant products from non-EU-countries
Export of plants and plant passport
An extensive international collaboration on plant health ensures that plant pests and diseases are not transmitted from country to country. A label or certificate shows that the plants or plant products comply with the requirements for movement within the EU or exported from the EU:
Movement within EU: When plants and plant products are traded within EU, a number of products are required to be accompanied by a plant passport, which certifies that the product meets EU's common plant health requirements for the product.
Export from the EU: When plants and plant products are exported out of EU to third countries, the product must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, if required by the importing country. The phytosanitary certificate is exchanged between the countries' plant health authorities and certifies that the product meets the plant health requirements of the importing country.
In Denmark all exporters of plants and plant products and all companies issuing plant passports must be registered and inspected by The Danish Agricultural Agency.