Plant Passports: Plants and Horticulture

As of 14th December, 2019 the new EU legislation and regulations concerning the Plant Passport obligation will come into force. If you are based in the United Kingdom and moving plants or plants products to other businesses in the EU (including within the UK) that can host quarantine pests and diseases, you may be required to have a plant passport. 

Why print a plant passport?

With a plant passport you prove that your plants meet the phytosanitary requirements that apply within the EU. The passport can be square or rectangular and the layout consists of mandatory elements.

Extension of plant passport obligation

The plant passport obligation extends to all “plants intended for planting”. According to the EU definition, these are plants that can produce whole plants and are intended for that purpose. These plants must be planted out, replanted or remain planted. Everything that we now refer to as propagating material is included (including seeds), but also all “consumer” room, bedding and tub plants. There will be exceptions; for certain seeds and for sale directly to the non-commercial end user.

What should the printed plant passport look like?

The new plant passport has a fixed layout and must be arranged per smallest trading unit, such as: pot, tray or box. The information on the passport must be legible to the naked eye. You can issue plant passports yourself, but you must be authorised by the relevant Government body.  

A format has been established with the following fixed elements for the plant passport label printing:

In the top left corner: the EU flag (in colour or black and white)

In the top right corner: the word “Plant Passport / Plant Passport (in other official language if relevant)”

• A – Botanical name
• B – Registration number
• C – Traceability code
• D – Country code of origin

How can you print a plant passport?

You can choose to code directly onto the plant container with an ink jet printer or print onto a label. The Linx 8920/8940 small character ink jet can easily and quickly print a full traceability plant passport on any plant pot. Linx are specialists in the field of coding and marking solutions. We can work with you to get the plant passport to your pot, tray or box simply and quickly with our machines and technologies.

How can you find out more about the regulation?

You can find out more about this regulation by visiting the government website regarding this topic here. You will be able to find out if this is something that is needed for you, and Linx will be able to support you with your requirement needs.

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See what your code will look like.

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