Am I a professional operator? Hobby plant sellers vs businesses
Plant passport rules apply to professional operators, not to everyone who sells a plant. Here is the test Defra uses, who it leaves out and how it applies to common situations for small sellers.
Short answer
You are likely a professional operator if you regularly sell plants or plant products to make a profit, for example with a website or social media account devoted to selling plants, a price list or regular adverts. Hobby growers giving away surplus plants, home gardeners who charge only for postage, and people selling plants for charity at fetes are not. Professional operators may need to register with APHA, and those who sell online or by post also need authorisation to issue plant passports.
Defra’s test
Defra does not give a one-line definition. It lists signs instead. You are likely to be a professional operator if you (Defra):
- regularly sell plants or plant products to make a profit, or earn commission selling them for others
- clearly advertise plants for sale to professional operators
- grow or produce plants to sell regularly for profit
- are paid for a plant-related service, such as landscaping
What counts as selling regularly
Defra says you may be considered to sell regularly for profit if you have:
- a website or social media account devoted to trading plants or plant products
- a price list for the plants you sell
- regular adverts for plants for sale
Defra’s checklist also mentions being set up to regularly take orders at a distance, such as taking online payments. That is the situation where plant passports become necessary.
Who is not a professional operator
According to Defra, these are not professional operators:
- hobbyists who grow plants for themselves and give away their surplus
- home gardeners who give plants away, or charge only for postage
- organisers and individuals selling plants for charity at church fetes and village fairs
- National Garden Scheme gardeners selling face to face to other gardeners for charity
Not-for-profit status alone does not exempt you. Defra says charities and community tree nurseries can be professional operators if their activities involve plants in the ways the law describes.
How the test applies to common situations
The table below applies Defra’s signs to situations small sellers often ask about. It is a guide, not a ruling: if you are unsure, ask APHA.
| Situation | Likely a professional operator? |
|---|---|
| Etsy or eBay shop with plant listings and regular sales | Yes. A shop devoted to plants with regular sales for profit fits Defra’s signs. |
| Instagram or TikTok account mainly used to sell rare houseplants | Yes. A social media account devoted to trading plants is one of Defra’s signs. |
| Selling propagated cuttings every month on Facebook Marketplace | Probably. Regular sales for profit point that way, whichever platform you use. |
| Posting spare seedlings to a friend for the cost of postage | No. Defra says charging only for postage does not make you a professional operator. |
| Plant stall at a village fete to raise money for charity | No. Defra names charity sales at fetes and fairs as not professional. |
| Garden centre, nursery or landscaper | Yes. |
If you are a professional operator
If you tick any of Defra’s boxes, you may need to register with APHA as a professional operator. If you also sell online, by phone or by mail order, or supply other businesses, you need authorisation to issue plant passports. How to get a plant passport covers the steps and fees, and Do I need a plant passport? explains which sales need one.
Defra asks anyone unsure about their status to email APHA at pptap@apha.gov.uk.
Change ahead: under the UK–EU SPS agreement, the government says EU plant passports will replace UK plant passports, with the agreement intended to take effect in mid-2027 (subject to negotiations). Until new guidance is published, the UK rules on this page apply. See EU plant passports in 2027.
Common questions
Does selling a few plants on Facebook Marketplace make me a professional operator?+
Not on its own. Occasional sales of surplus plants are closer to a hobby. Regular sales for profit, a price list or frequent adverts point towards being a professional operator.
I only charge for postage. Do I need a plant passport?+
No. Defra says home gardeners who give plants away or charge only for postage are not professional operators.
Is a charity or community nursery a professional operator?+
It can be. Defra says organisations, including not-for-profit ones, are professional operators if their activities with plants fall within the legal definition. Charity plant sales at fetes and fairs are the exception.
Do I need to register if I only sell at markets?+
You may still need to register as a professional operator, but sales to customers who pay in person do not need a plant passport. Ask APHA to confirm what applies to you.
Sources
- Defra Plant Health Portal: Am I a professional operator?
- GOV.UK: Issuing plant passports to trade plants in Great Britain
- GOV.UK: Register to become a plant health professional operator
- Defra Plant Health Portal: Plant passport FAQ
- GOV.UK: SPS agreement, horticulture industry: preparing your business
This guide summarises official guidance for Great Britain as of 12 Oct 2026. Rules can change, so check the linked GOV.UK pages or contact APHA (Scotland: SASA) for your own situation. Plant Passport Ops does not grant official authorisation or provide legal or regulatory advice. It helps sellers organise label and record workflows based on the information they enter.
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