Do you need a plant passport for cuttings or seeds?
Cuttings and seeds are popular with small online sellers, and the rules treat them differently. Here is what GOV.UK says about each, the full list of seeds that need a passport and the exemptions.
Short answer
Cuttings: yes. GOV.UK counts living parts of plants, such as cuttings, that are meant to be planted as plants for planting, so a regular seller posting cuttings needs a UK plant passport on each parcel. Seeds: only some. Seeds of 17 listed species need a passport, including tomato, peppers, onion, leek, sunflower, peas, runner beans, French beans and broad beans. Other flower and ornamental seeds are not on the list.
Cuttings count as plants for planting
GOV.UK’s list of what needs a passport starts with "all plants for planting" and says this includes "living parts of plants, such as cuttings" that are not yet planted but are meant to be (GOV.UK list). The wording covers rooted and unrooted cuttings sold to be grown on.
So the usual test applies. If you sell cuttings regularly for profit and post them to buyers, each parcel needs a UK plant passport, the same as a potted plant. The botanical name of the parent plant goes in element A.
The seeds that need a plant passport
Seeds are different: only the species on the GOV.UK list need a passport when they move within Great Britain. The list on GOV.UK (last updated 9 September 2024) names these:
| Botanical name | Common name |
|---|---|
| Allium cepa | Onion and shallot |
| Allium porrum | Leek |
| Brassica napus | Oilseed rape |
| Brassica rapa | Turnip |
| Capsicum spp. | Peppers |
| Castanea | Sweet chestnut |
| Glycine max | Soya bean |
| Helianthus annuus | Sunflower |
| Linum usitatissimum | Flax and linseed |
| Medicago sativa | Lucerne |
| Phaseolus coccineus | Runner bean |
| Phaseolus vulgaris | French bean |
| Pisum sativum | Peas |
| Sinapis alba | White mustard |
| Solanum lycopersicum | Tomato |
| Solanum tuberosum | Seed potatoes |
| Vicia faba (for vegetable use) | Broad bean |
Check the current GOV.UK list before you start selling seed, as it can change.
Small seed packets and certification
Packet size does not matter. Defra says the rules "also apply to seed which may travel in small packets" (FAQ Q1.12), so a packet of tomato seed posted to a home gardener needs a passport.
Some seeds that need a passport also need certification before they can be marketed. GOV.UK points to the list of agricultural and vegetable seeds that must be certified.
When listed seeds do not need a passport
GOV.UK lists some seed movements that do not need a passport, including:
- supply to official testing bodies
- supply for processing and packaging
- movement for scientific or trial purposes
- seed that has not yet been finally certified
- seed intended for export outside the EU
Bulbs, tubers and other propagating material
GOV.UK does not list bulbs, corms or tubers by name. They are sold to be planted, so they are generally treated as plants for planting, and seed potatoes are listed separately. If you sell an unusual product, ask APHA before you rely on an exemption.
Hobby sellers and swaps
The rules apply to professional operators: people who regularly sell plants for profit. Defra says giving plants away, or charging only for postage, does not make a home gardener a professional operator. Am I a professional operator? explains the test.
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
Do I need a plant passport to sell cuttings on Etsy or eBay?+
Yes, if you sell them regularly for profit and post them. Cuttings meant to be planted are plants for planting, and the passport rules apply whichever platform you use. See Plant passports for marketplace sellers.
Do flower seeds need a plant passport?+
Most do not. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is the only ornamental flower on the GOV.UK seed list. The other listed species are mainly vegetables and crops.
Do tomato and chilli seeds need a plant passport?+
Yes. Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and Capsicum spp. (peppers, including chillies) are on the GOV.UK list of seeds that need a passport.
Do succulent leaves sold for propagation need a passport?+
They are living parts of plants meant to be planted, so they fall under plants for planting in the same way as cuttings. GOV.UK does not mention leaf cuttings specifically, so ask APHA if you are unsure.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Plants and wood that need a plant passport for movement within Great Britain
- GOV.UK: Issuing plant passports to trade plants in Great Britain
- Defra Plant Health Portal: Plant passport FAQ
- GOV.UK: Marketing of agricultural and vegetable seed varieties
- Defra Plant Health Portal: Am I a professional operator?
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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