The European Union enacted new regulations that require phytosanitary certificates for all raw and minimally processed plant materials exported to their member states beginning December 14, 2019. These regulations include both changes for commodities which are already regulated as well as new requirements for previously unregulated plant products.

If you are shipping...

Plant products or living plants* such as:

Fruit or vegetables (other than preserved by deep freezing;) tubers, corms, bulbs, or rhizomes; cut flowers; trees or branches retaining foliage; plant tissue cultures; live pollen; bud-wood, cuttings, scions; grain or grain products; hop bales, pellets, and cones; seeds; unprocessed or minimally processed plant products, including wood.

...to these countries...

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Montenegro^
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland^
• United Kingdom

...you need a phytosanitary certificate for each shipment. 

Without the necessary certification, the EU will reject shipments they receive without recourse. 

*unless specifically indicated otherwise in a commodity summary
^ Although not European Union member countries, Montenegro and Switzerland follow the European Union requirements.

In addition to the new certifications, 36 high-risk plant groups will be completely prohibited from entering the EU until the U.S. Department of Agriculture establishes additional certification standards for these products. Of these, three will impact Washington growers: plants related to apples, cherries, and alder. Click here for a complete list of prohibited plants.

For more information about prohibited plant products, visit USDA's plant export page. 

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is the only entity in Washington that can provide phytosanitary certification for exports. Visit WSDA’s website at agr.wa.gov/ to learn more about your specific commodity and how to obtain certification.

WSDA is expecting unusually high demand for certification services and encourages exporters to get started. Per EU requirements, shipments may be inspected up to 30 days before exportation.