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Phytosanitary certificate

Official document certifying that exported plants or plant products meet the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

Definition and legal framework

A phytosanitary certificate is an official document issued by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) of the exporting country. It attests that plants, plant products, or other regulated articles meet the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. This system is governed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), administered by the FAO.

Types of certificates

The IPPC provides two standardised models:

Phytosanitary certificate for export: for consignments destined directly for the importing country

Phytosanitary certificate for re-export: for consignments transiting through an intermediate country

Obtaining procedure

The exporter must:

Submit an application to the NPPO
Present goods for phytosanitary inspection
The certificate is issued after verification of compliance with the importing country's requirements

Key watch points

The certificate must be issued before shipment (some countries refuse post-shipment certificates)
Each importing country has its own phytosanitary requirements: consult the IPPC ePhyto database
The EU requires passage through a Border Control Post (BCP) with prior notification via TRACES NT for imported plants
ePhyto (electronic phytosanitary certificate) is gradually replacing paper certificates

Common External Tariff (CET)