Do you want to bring plant products such as plants, fruit and seeds to the Netherlands? You may not bring some of these products from outside the European Union (EU). For other products, you will need a phytosanitary certificate. This is a certificate for plant health. You do not need a phytosanitary certificate if you are bringing products from another EU country to the Netherlands.
Applying for a phytosanitary certificate
Apply for a phytosanitary certificate in the country from which you want to bring the products. You must do this through the authorities of that country.
Bringing plant products from outside the EU
If you are entering the EU, a plant health inspection service will inspect your products.
Mandatory phytosanitary certificate
You may not bring the following plant products to the EU without a phytosanitary certificate:
- All fresh vegetables
- Fresh fruit
- Plants
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Flowers
If you do not have a phytosanitary certificate, you may bring the following products:
- Bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians
- Fruit processed into food products: cooked, blanched, baked, fermented, frozen or puréed
- Dried flowers
- All fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and flowers from Switzerland, Northern Ireland and Liechtenstein
You can find the rules for importing plants and plant products (in Dutch) on the website of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Laws and regulations
European Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, Article 71
Plantgezondheidswet (in Dutch)
Regeling fytosanitaire uitvoeringsbesluiten (in Dutch)
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Last updated on 24 July 2024