Plants with a plant passport

Plant passports

A plant passport is a document that contains vital information required for the trade of seeds, cuttings, plants, and trees between businesses in the EU.

Plant passports are mandatory to identify the origins of plants and plant products, ensuring traceability and compliance with plant health regulations.

Which plants and products require a plant passport?

The following should be accompanied by a plant passport.

  • Propagating materials: Any materials used for plant propagation, such as seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and rootstocks.
  • Potted plants, bedding plants, or tub plants sold for ornamental purposes or consumption, such as flowers and decorative plants.
  • An exhaustive list can be found here.

What information does the plant passport contain?

A plant passport is issued in a square or elongated form and consists of a number of fixed elements:

  • In the top left-hand corner is the flag of the European Union, in colour or black and white.
  • In the top right-hand corner are the words ‘plant passport’.
  • The letter ‘A’ followed by the botanical name of the plant species in question.
  • The letter ‘B’ followed by the ISO code of the Member State of the producer, followed by a hyphen and the phytosanitary registration number of the professional operator; you can find more information here.
  • The letter ‘C’ followed by the plant’s traceability code. This may be supplemented with a QR code, hologram, chip or other data carrier belonging to the traceability code.
  • The letter ‘D’ followed by the ISO code of the country of origin or production.
Example of a plant passport

It's important to note that a plant passport can only be issued for plants that are free from harmful organisms. Use of the passport by businesses guarantees that the plants you buy are free from pests and diseases.

Can plants travel with their plant passport?

Yes, plants can travel within the EU with their plant passport. The plant passport accompanies the plants, seeds, or plant materials during their trade between business operators. It provides crucial information about the product, ensuring compliance with plant health regulations and facilitating seamless trade within the EU.

By using plant passports, authorities and traders can monitor the movement of plants and mitigate the risk of introducing harmful organisms.