Importing and exporting fresh fruit and vegetables

Guide

Last updated 16 September 2024

Most fruit and vegetables imported to or exported from the UK must meet relevant quality and labelling requirements, known as marketing standards. These are checked by: 

  • HMI (Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate) in England and Wales  
  • SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) in Scotland  
  • DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) in Northern Ireland  

Some fruit and vegetables imported to and exported from the UK need to go through plant health controls. Plant health is checked by: 

  • APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) in England and Wales 
  • SASA in Scotland 
  • DAERA in Northern Ireland

Importing fruit and vegetables from the EU to Great Britain 

Fruit and vegetables grown in the EU and imported from the EU to Great Britain do not need to go through marketing standards controls or plant health controls.   

Marketing standards controls for fruit and vegetables imported from the EU are not expected to be introduced before at least 1 February 2027.  

Further assessment of fruit and vegetables for plant health risk is ongoing, and risk categorisations may change. However, any changes to plant health controls for fruit and vegetables imported from the EU will not be introduced before 30 April 2024.  

Read more about importing fruit and vegetables from the EU to Great Britain.

Moving fruit and vegetables from Northern Ireland to Great Britain 

Fruit and vegetables that are ‘qualifying Northern Ireland goods’ moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain are not subject to marketing standards controls. Non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain are subject to the same controls as goods being imported to Great Britain from the EU. 

Follow the guidance on moving plants and plant products from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.  

Importing fruit and vegetables from the EU to Northern Ireland 

Follow DAERA’s guidance on importing plants and plant products from the EU to Northern Ireland.  

Importing fruit and vegetables directly from non-EU countries to Great Britain  

If your goods will be travelling from a non-EU country through the EU, read guidance on importing fruit and vegetables from non-EU countries to Great Britain through the EU. 

If your goods need to meet the Specific Marketing Standard (SMS) and you’re importing them directly from a non-EU country to Great Britain, you’ll need a certificate of conformity.  

The certificate needs to be issued in Great Britain unless your SMS consignment is from a country that has Great Britain Approved Inspection Service (GB AIS) status and is accompanied by a valid certificate of conformity issued by the country of production. 

Check which countries have GB AIS status and what goods this applies to.  

Products that enter Great Britain from a country with GB AIS status and are accompanied by a certificate of conformity need fewer checks at the border.  

HMI or SASA may inspect a small sample of goods from countries with GB AIS status to make sure they comply with the quality and labelling requirements. 

You must pre-notify HMI on IPAFFS of your intention to import fruit and vegetables subject to SMS, even if: 

  • you’re importing from a country that has GB AIS status 
  • you have a certificate of conformity that’s issued by that country 

If you’re importing goods that need to meet the General Marketing Standard (GMS), HMI or SASA may check your consignment to make sure it meets the quality and labelling requirements.  

If HMI or SASA  decides to check your consignment, you’ll need to apply for a Great Britain-issued certificate of conformity.  

To apply for a certificate of conformity: 

To import high or medium risk fruit and vegetables from non-EU countries to Great Britain, you’ll need to: 

  • use IPAFFS to register as an importer, unless you’re already registered  
  • get a phytosanitary certificate for your consignment from the plant health authority in the country where your supplier is 
  • pre-notify (give advance notice to) APHA or SASA about your consignment 

To import low risk fruit and vegetables, you’ll need to get a phytosanitary certificate.

Read more about importing fruit and vegetables from non-EU countries to Great Britain.  

Importing fruit and vegetables from non-EU countries to Great Britain through the EU 

HMI or SASA assess fruit and vegetables that have travelled in transit from non-EU countries through the EU to Great Britain to make sure they comply with marketing standards in Great Britain.  

If you import fruit and vegetables from a non-EU country to Great Britain via the EU, your goods will be treated as an EU import if they have: 

  • entered into ‘free circulation’ (customs cleared and any duty or VAT paid) 
  • passed EU plant health checks 
  • been issued with a phytosanitary certificate from an EU member state, if applicable

The goods will not need to go through further plant health controls. Further assessment of fruit and vegetables for plant health risk is ongoing, and risk categorisations may change. However, any changes to plant health controls for fruit and vegetables imported from the EU will not be introduced before 30 April 2024.  

The goods will be treated as a non-EU country import if they did not enter into free circulation and pass plant health checks in the EU. 

Re-exports 

If you import fruit and vegetables into Great Britain from a non-EU country and then re-export a proportion of your consignment to the EU, your consignment will need to undergo both import and export processes.  

Importing green bananas to Great Britain 

Green bananas imported to Great Britain do not need to go through plant health controls.  

Green bananas imported to Great Britain from EU countries do not need to go through marketing standards controls. These are not expected to be introduced before at least 1 February 2027.

If you’re importing green bananas to Great Britain from non-EU countries, you must: 

  • notify HMI using IPAFFS if you’re importing to England and Wales 
  • contact SASA at hort.marketing@gov.scot if you’re importing to Scotland 

HMI or SASA may inspect your consignment at the border. 

You’ll also need an inspection certificate to import green bananas to Great Britain from non-EU countries. To apply for an inspection certificate: 

You can get Exempted Banana Trader Status if you fulfil certain criteria. If you’re an exempt trader, you will: 

  • not need a Great Britain inspection certificate when importing green bananas 
  • be exempt for the period that your exemption certificate remains valid 

To check your exemption status, email: 

Contact DAERA for guidance on importing green bananas to Northern Ireland.  

Exporting fruit and vegetables from Great Britain to the EU 

If you’re exporting fruit and vegetables subject to the Specific Marketing Standard (SMS) to the EU, you’ll need a certificate of conformity for your goods to get customs clearance in Great Britain. 

To apply for a certificate of conformity:  

The United Kingdom holds AIS (Approved Inspection Service) status for fruit and vegetables. This means if you’re exporting SMS produce grown in Great Britain to the EU, you can use a Great Britain-issued certificate of conformity to get customs clearance in the EU. A sample of consignments may be checked before they’re imported into the EU to make sure they conform with EU marketing standards.  

You can only use the AIS scheme for produce grown in Great Britain. If you’re re-exporting produce grown outside of Great Britain to the EU, you’ll need to follow the EU’s third-country import requirements.  

If you’re exporting fruit and vegetables subject to the General Marketing Standard (GMS) to the EU, you do not need a certificate of conformity to get customs clearance in Great Britain. 

If you’re re-exporting fruit and vegetables grown in a non-EU country to the EU, you may need an import certificate of conformity issued at entry to the EU by the importing member state. This depends on the member state’s risk assessment for GMS and SMS goods. 

You’ll need a phytosanitary certificate to export some fruit and vegetables from Great Britain to the EU. If you’re exporting from England or Wales, you can use the apply for plant export certificates and inspections service to apply for a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of conformity at the same time.  

Moving fruit and vegetables from Great Britain to Northern Ireland 

Fruit and vegetables moved from Great Britain to Northern Ireland need to enter through designated points of entry and meet EU import marketing standards requirements. 

As part of the Windsor Framework, goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland for final consumption are not subject to marketing standards controls if they move under the arrangements of the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme on the basis of a general certificate for registered members.   

For fruit and vegetables not moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme, a risk-based approach applies to controls at points of entry into Northern Ireland. In line with the very low risk posed by goods originating in Great Britain, SMS and GMS goods can be released into free circulation in Northern Ireland without needing a Great Britain-issued certificate of conformity. This may change on the basis of risk. 

Exporting fruit and vegetables from Northern Ireland to the EU 

Follow guidance on exporting plants and plant products from Northern Ireland to the EU. 

Exporting fruit and vegetables directly from the UK to non-EU countries 

You must check that you meet the quality and labelling rules for the country you’re exporting to before sending your consignment. 

SMS products need a Great Britain-issued certificate of conformity to get customs clearance in Great Britain. 

To apply for a certificate of conformity:  

GMS goods do not need a Great Britain-issued certificate of conformity to get customs clearance in Great Britain. 

Most fruit and vegetables need a phytosanitary certificate before they’re exported from the UK to a non-EU country.  

If you’re exporting from England or Wales, you can use the plant export certificates and inspections service to apply for a phytosanitary certificate and a certificate of conformity at the same time. Submit the phytosanitary certificate application first.  

If you’re exporting fruit and vegetables from Northern Ireland, follow DAERA’s guidance on exporting plants and plant products.  

Exporting green bananas from the UK

If you’re exporting green bananas, you do not need an inspection or exemption certificate for the goods to clear UK customs. 

You should check that you meet the quality and labelling rules for the country you’re exporting to before sending your consignment. 

You can check each country’s rules by either: 

If your exported fruit and vegetables are rejected at the EU border 

You’ll need to use IPAFFS to request a certificate of conformity for SMS goods if both of the following conditions apply: 

  • your consignment of SMS products is rejected by the EU 
  • you want these products released into free circulation in Great Britain 

If both of these conditions apply to your consignment of GMS products, you may need to submit an application in IPAFFS requesting a certificate of conformity for GMS goods. You should follow the import procedures for GMS goods. 

If you want your consignment to return to Scotland, contact SASA at hort.marketing@gov.scot.  

Approved Trader Scheme (ATS)  

Approved trader status means you’re identified as lower risk and will receive fewer marketing standards conformity checks on: 

  • imports of fruit and vegetables  
  • exports of fruit and vegetables produced in Great Britain 

You can get approved trader status if:  

  • you’re a grower, packer, importer or exporter  
  • your business consistently meets marketing standards requirements  

For more information about ATS, contact:  

If you need help

If you have any questions about importing or exporting fruit and vegetables, you can call 0300 1000 313 or email phsi-importers@apha.gov.uk.

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