Registration and Procedures for Import of Plants and Plant Products

Consignments of regulated plants and plant products and other objects (such as second-hand agricultural machinery) from Third Countries (non-EU) must undergo controls before their entry into free circulation is permitted. Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 and Regulation (EU) 2017/625 provides for the control of such products being imported into the EU. In Ireland, the competent authority for carrying out these controls is the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

All importers of regulated plants and plant products and other objects (such as second-hand agricultural machinery are required to be registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Registration is free of charge and more information including the registration forms can be found at: Register to Import or Export

To find out if you are importing regulated plants and plant products please click on the link below

Consignments of regulated plants and plant products must be imported into Ireland from non-EU countries by one of the following methods:

1. Via an approved Border Control Post (BCP) for all commercial consignments.

2. Postal/Courier Services including Temporary Storage Facilities (TSF’s) for personal consignments.

In Ireland, the following locations are designated and approved as BCPs for the purposes of plants, plant products and other objects:

• Dublin Port

• Dublin Airport

• Rosslare Europort

Official controls on relevant consignments must be carried out at the BCP by DAFM Plant Health Inspectors before entry into free circulation is allowed.

Under Article 79 of Regulation (EU) 2017|625 of the European Council and the Parliament found here, Member States are required to collect fees for official controls carried out on consignments of animals and goods entering the European Union.

ICOPS Trader Notice 5|2021 outlines the fee structures applied to import controls at border control posts as well as explains how invoices are issued.

Queries - In the event that you have any queries in relation to this matter, please contact this office either by emailing: plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie or alternatively by telephone (01)5058885.

Please carefully note the following information when importing or otherwise risk delays or entry refusal at the Irish border:

• These import procedures cover procedures for Dublin Airport and Dublin Port for all consignments of plants and plant products imported directly from third countries. Some distinct differences in the process at the Airport and the Port are outlined below where the consignment is present at the border, but broadly the process is the same.

• Only registered professional operators who are also approved to import may import regulated plants and plant products directly from third countries (see

• It is the responsibility of the operator/person responsible for the consignment (acting on behalf of the trader, customs agent) to ensure they are registered as an importer on TRACES NT - see Plants and plant products - procedures for Traces NT.

Guidelines on how to create an EU login and sign up to use TRACES NT.

• All importers of regulated plants and plant products must notify the Department a minimum of 24 hours in advance of shipping via points 1 and 2 below.

• Regulated plants and plant products coming from the third countries must be accompanied by a valid phytosanitary certificate.

All wood packaging material and dunnage associated with the consignment must be stamped with the ISPM 15 mark. Registered traders are required to follow the steps and advice below:

1. Complete the CHEDPP part 1 via TRACES NT

2. Necessary documents and logistical information must be submitted 24 hours in advance via DAFM's Imports Control Web Portal.

Instructions on how to use the web portal can be found here.

Instructions on how to complete a CHEDPP part 1 can be found at Plants and plant products - procedures for Traces NT.

The documents and information required are as follows:

• Contact details of Operator Responsible for the consignment

• Date and time of arrival of consignment

• Country of dispatch

• Entry Point on arrival

• CHED-PP number

• Plant Health Registration (PHR) number of the importer

• Customs SAD number

• Copy of the Original Phytosanitary Certificate (colour scan of original) with appropriate additional declarations

• Copy of the Invoice

• Copy of the Airway bill

• Copy of Customs SAD (Single Administrative Document

3. The importer or customs agent will receive an automatic confirmation email that DAFM have received an application. This email will contain a Case Reference Number. This is an automated reply and only refers to receipt of application and is not an approval for entry.

4. If the application is incomplete or documents are missing, the operator responsible for the consignment will be notified of this via email. The email will outline what information or documents are still required. In this case, to proceed the operator responsible for the consignment must resubmit the outstanding information via the link attached on the email.

Please note incomplete applications will likely lead to delays in the processing applications.

5. On arrival, consignments will be subject to Documentary, Identity and Physical checks by a DAFM official.

6. At Dublin Port - On the date of arrival of the consignment the operator responsible for the consignment will be notified the allocated inspections time at the BCP. It is the responsibility of the operator responsible for the consignment to ensure that the consignment is presented at the allocated time at the BCP to avoid delays.

7. On successful completion of DAFM’s checks, a Clearance Certificate will be issued to Customs and the operator responsible for the consignment.

8. If a consignment is rejected at any stage of the checking process, the operator responsible for the consignment will be notified via email outlining the reasons for rejection. In the event of a rejection of an application the Customs SAD is also rejected. If the operator responsible for the consignment wishes to reapply, they must supply a new Customs SAD and reapply to DAFM via the process outlined above.

9. For checks completed at Dublin Port - The original phytosanitary certificate must be presented to a DAFM inspector at the BCP in Cargo Terminal 3 in Dublin airport on the day of arrival of the consignment.

Note: It is the responsibility of the operator responsible for the consignment to ensure that any additional documentary processes necessary to clear Customs Control have been completed.

Phytosanitary Certificates:

• Registered importers are reminded of the provisions of Trader Notice 4 of 2015 and specifically; the requirement of ensuring that the original Phytosanitary Certificate for each consignment is received by DAFM within five working days of DAFM issuing the associated Clearance Certificate. Failure to do so may result in delays to issuing of CB licences for subsequent import applications.

Import Controls for Pesticide Residue

‘If importing Food or Feed of Non-Animal Origin from a Third Country, please visit https://www.pcs.agriculture.gov.ie/foodsafety/themonitoringandcontrolsprogramme/importcontrols/ for details of relevant checks and systems applicable and commodities concerned. These checks and systems will also be applicable if these commodities land in the UK (following the end of the transition period) and are subsequently transported into the Republic of Ireland.”

Q: I am a non commercial importer and I wish to bring cut flowers home from a third country (non-EU) what do I need to do?

A: There are many thousands of species of cut flowers, some are regulated others are not, so it’s not possible to tell you until we know the specific details. Please submit your query via email to plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie.

Q: I am a commercial importer how do i establish if there are phytosanitary requirements to import my plants into Ireland (EU)?

A: Contact plantimports@agriculture.gov.ie.

Q: Post import checks I noted unusual occurrence of harmful organisms (pests or diseases) on my consignment. Who do I contact?

A: Immediately contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at email address plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie or by telephone 01-5058885.