Certain plant produce and used machinery import procedures to change from September 1

The new regulations pertain to third countries, which the UK will become post-Brexit.

With effect from September 1, 2019, procedures for the importation of certain plant produce and used machinery entering the European Union from third countries will be revised.

Horticulture

14 August 2019

From September 1, in addition to existing requirements to obtain a Colorado Beetle (importation) Licence, all importations into the European Union (EU) from third countries of: grapes, kiwi fruit, strawberries, papaya, rubus (raspberries etc.), avocado, and used agricultural and forestry machinery will be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the country of origin, according to a Trader Notice issued by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Specifically for Irish businesses, these new regulations will pertain to the UK once it leaves the EU, regardless of whether there is a deal or not. There would have to be a specific, separate treaty established between the EU and the UK for these rules not to apply to the UK post-Brexit.

The notice continued to say that in addition, fruits that were not previously regulated from European countries that are not members of the EU, will become regulated: custard apples, quince, persimmons, apples, mangoes, passion fruit, prunus, guava, pears, ribes, syzygium, and vaccinium.

Used machinery

The notice also states that the new regulations for used machinery, which have been operated for agricultural or forestry purposes, require that, prior to export, the equipment is cleaned to remove any soil or plant debris.

The machinery must then be subject to an official inspection by the exporting country’s NPPO to certify, by issuance of a phytosanitary certificate, that it complies with EU import requirements.

These new requirements are set out under Commission Implementing Directive (EU) 2019/523 of March 21, 2019, amending Council Directive 2000/29/EC on protective measures against the introduction into the “Community” of organisms harmful to plant or plant products and against their spread within the “Community”.

For queries, contact plantandpests@agriculture.gov.ie or alternatively by phone – +353-(0)1-505-8885.