Plant Health
There are many pests and diseases that can seriously damage crops and plants in the Isle of Man. To protect plant health, the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) sets policy and enforces controls and restrictions on the import, movement and keeping of certain plants, plant pests and other materials such as soil.
Why is Plant Health so important? By protecting plant health, we are protecting the benefits plants provide to all of us, to wildlife, the environment and our economy.
Factors such as globalisation of trade, increased travel have led to more plants and plant products entering the Isle of Man this in turn means that there are more threats to our plant health. Protecting the Isle of Man from harmful pests and diseases means that our plants can thrive in the future.
By protecting plant health we are protecting the benefits plants provide to all of us, to wildlife, the environment and our economy.
Legislation
Plant health legislation controls the import and movement of certain plants, seeds and organic matter - such as soil - and certain plant products, including fruit, potatoes, vegetables, cut flowers, foliage and grain.
Controls are different depending on the species - and whether or not they are classified as quarantine organisms - but could include the need for classification, a phytosanitary certificate, a plant passport and/or inspection requirements.
There are two main elements of plant health control relevant to growers and crop farmers:
- protection against quarantine organisms - measures to prevent the introduction and spread of harmful plant pests and diseases which are not established in GB
- certification - ensures that high-quality planting material which is free from specific pests and diseases is available to growers
Imports
Some plants or plant products which host or can carry plant pests are prohibited from entering the Isle of Man while others must meet certain requirements and be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. To find out what you need to do to meet these requirements please read the ‘Regulated goods from EU’ document which can be found in the Downloadable Documents area.
Importing plants and plant products from the EU
The Isle of Man is no longer part of the EU Plant Passport Regime.
The majority of plants and plant products entering the Isle of Man from the EU are now subject to plant health controls, such as certification requirements.
Consignments of some controlled commodities being imported from the EU must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued in the country of export instead of an EU plant passport.
Just as for imports from non-EU countries, importers must check if a plant or plant product requires phytosanitary certification to be allowed entry into the Isle of Man. You must also register with the relevant competent authority before importing any controlled plants or plant products.
Phytosanitary certification requirements for the Isle of Man are the same as for Great Britain as set out in Schedule 10 of the Plant Health (Phytosanitary Conditions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
