Free tool
Do I need a plant passport? Free checker for UK plant sellers
Answer five quick questions about what you sell and how it reaches your buyers. The checker applies the GOV.UK and Defra rules for Great Britain and tells you whether you need UK plant passports, and why.
Based on GOV.UK and Defra guidance · Checked · Free, no sign-up
How the checker decides
- 1
Are you a professional operator?
The rules apply to people who regularly sell plants with a view to profit. Hobby growers passing on surplus plants, and charity plant sales at local fetes, are not professional operators (Defra).
- 2
Is it a plant for planting?
Passports are needed for "all plants for planting", including houseplants and cuttings, plus seed potatoes and seeds of 17 listed species. Cut flowers and most flower seeds do not need one (GOV.UK list).
- 3
How does the plant reach the buyer?
Sales where a home gardener pays in person and takes the plant away are exempt. Plants sold online, by phone or by mail order, and plants supplied to other businesses, need a passport (GOV.UK, Article 81).
- 4
Where does the plant go?
UK plant passports cover moves within Great Britain and to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Northern Ireland uses NI plant health labels for business customers, and exports need other paperwork.
Common questions
Do I need a plant passport to sell houseplants online?+
Yes, if you sell them regularly. Houseplants are plants for planting, and the exemption for home gardeners only covers customers who buy in person. Each parcel needs a UK plant passport.
Do I need a plant passport for cuttings on Etsy or eBay?+
Yes, if you sell them regularly for profit and post them. Cuttings meant to be planted count as plants for planting, whichever platform the order comes through. See plant passports for marketplace sellers.
Is this checker official?+
No. It is a free tool from Plant Passport Ops that summarises the GOV.UK and Defra guidance linked on this page. For your own situation, check those pages or ask APHA (in Scotland, SASA).
What does it cost to get authorised?+
Registering and applying for authorisation online are free; a paper application costs £20.66. APHA then inspects you, charging £61.58 for each 15 minutes with a minimum of £123.16, and you renew every year. See how to get a plant passport.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Issuing plant passports to trade plants in Great Britain
- Retained Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, Article 81 (exemption for final users)
- Defra Plant Health Portal: Plant passport FAQ
- Defra Plant Health Portal: Am I a professional operator?
- GOV.UK: Plants and wood that need a plant passport for movement within Great Britain
- GOV.UK: Move plants and seeds from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using NI plant health labels
- GOV.UK: Export plants and plant products from Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- SASA: Plant passports (Scotland)
- DAERA: Plant health regulation (Northern Ireland)
- GOV.UK: SPS agreement, horticulture industry: preparing your business
This checker summarises official guidance for Great Britain as of 28 Oct 2026. 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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Questions? hello@plantpassportops.app