DAFM eZINE / 07
PREPARING FOR BREXIT From January 1, 2021, the transition period will end and the UK will become classified as a ‘Third Country’ (nonEU). This will mean additional requirements for the import and export of plants and plant products to and from the UK. If you are a landscaper, garden centre, nursery, county council, local authority or online retailer that trades in plants and plant products, you are required to register as a professional operator with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). If you are importing or exporting plants or plant products with the UK or another non-EU country you are also required to register with DAFM. Certain plants and plant products will require a phytosanitary
certificate for movement (import and export) between the EU and the UK. All wood packaging material associated with plants and plant products to and from the UK such as pallets, crates and dunnage will need to be compliant with ISPM 15 (International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures). Imports from the UK will need to be notified to DAFM, 24 hours in advance of arrival and exports to the UK will need to be notified 14 days prior to departure. For more information in relation to registration, frequently asked questions, import and export procedures for plants and plant products and products which require a phytosanitary certificate please visit our Brexit webpage at: www.agriculture.gov.ie/ farmingsectors/planthealthtrade/brexit. ✽
UNSOLICITED SEEDS FROM OUTSIDE THE EU Over the last number of weeks, DAFM received reports from members of the public who received packets of seeds which they hadn’t ordered from countries outside of the EU. DAFM launched a social media campaign to raise awareness around this issue and ask members of the public to report these incidences to DAFM. To date, DAFM has received 33 seed packets from members of the public. The seed packages were marked as having originated in China, Vanuatu, Tonga, Malaysia, Singapore, USA and Kyrgyzstan. These seeds have been identified and species have included rapeseed, bamboo, onion, red clover, pigweed, knotgrass, bluegrass and pine. These seeds have been destroyed after identification. DAFM has advised the EU Commission of the situation and is engaging with the other Member States, the Commission and other countries in relation to the seeds. Under the EU Plant Health Regulation, all plants and plant products - including seeds - from outside of the EU should be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. This is to ensure the plants/seeds are not invasive species or contain any pests or diseases which would have an adverse impact on Ireland’s horticulture industry or its biodiversity. DAFM regularly perform checks on imported plants and plant products to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases into Ireland. These checks are conducted as part of DAFM’s
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Plant Health and Bio-security Strategy 2020-2025. For more information about this strategy please visit: www.agriculture.gov.ie/dontriskit/planthealthbiosecuritystrategy. ✽
HORTICULTURECONNECTED / www.horticultureconnected.ie / Winter 2020
