Get directions on inspections and certificates

A large number of medium- and high-risk products have required a phytosanitary or veterinary certificate for import into the United Kingdom (UK) since 31 January 2024. You must have your cargo inspected in the Netherlands beforehand for this purpose. No entry to the UK without a certificate.

Last update
09 May 2024 15:33

Veterinary

The list of veterinary products classified as medium or high risk by the UK can be found here. For each category, you can read exactly what the British government expects of you.

Phytosanitary

All information on phytosanitary products considered medium- and high-risk by the UK can be found on this list.

Please note! The UK may change the classification of products in a risk category (low, medium, high) in the interim. Up-to-date information on the UK’s requirements for products can always be found in the NVWA Export Assistant (in Dutch only).

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Ensure timely inspection

Obtaining a phytosanitary or veterinary certificate always requires a prior inspection. These inspections are done in the Netherlands by the NVWA (veterinary) or under their auspices for phytosanitary cargo by a specific inspection body:

Follow a manual added link
Follow a manual added link

KCB

(fruit and vegetables, pot plants and cut flowers) 

BKD

(flower bulbs)

COKZ

(milk and dairy products)

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NAK

(agricultural crops and potatoes) 

Naktuinbouw

(seeds, tree nursery products, onion sets and propagation material)

Detailed information on the procedures for inspections can be found on the websites of the respective bodies. For all inspections, applications are made digitally via e-CertNL.

Also important for exporters

  1. Decide in good time whether to organise the inspection process yourself or outsource it to your logistics service provider. The logistics service provider should know exactly the rules and be familiar with all procedures. Often, the logistics service provider can also bundle inspections efficiently. For phytosanitary cargo, there is also the option for a company to carry out its own inspections within strict rules. This Company Inspection System (only in Dutch) requires, among other things, training of its own phytosanitary inspection staff. 
  2. All veterinary cargo and medium- and high-risk phytosanitary products always require pre-notification in the UK IPAFFS system prior to arrival in the UK. Always ensure that the UK importer or his representative has the correct information for this in good time. In the new situation, low-risk phytosanitary cargoes no longer require pre-notification in IPAFFS.

Fruit and vegetables from low to medium risk

The UK initially classified EU fruit and vegetable imports as low risk. This does not now require a phytosanitary certificate. Meanwhile, the Plant Health Information Portal has published a list of fruit and vegetables that are likely to be classified as medium risk after all. This would mean that a phytosanitary certificate will be required and inspection will take place for these products from 31 October 2024. On the NVWA’ s website you can follow what the UK eventually decides about this.

Quality inspection fruit and vegetables

Note! A quality inspection is already always required prior to exporting fruit and vegetables. This is an existing requirement from the European Union itself. Applying for a quality inspection is done via e-CertNL and is carried out by the KCB. The resulting KCB quality certificate number must be stated on the export declaration to Customs. Read more here

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