Plant passport symbols explained: what A, B, C, D and the codes mean

Plant passports follow a fixed pattern set in law, so the same marks turn up on every label (Annex VII, GOV.UK). This table covers everything you are likely to see on a passport in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the EU.

A, the botanical name. The Latin name of the plant, such as Monstera deliciosa. GOV.UK allows the genus alone only when the species is not known, and the variety or cultivar name is optional. One passport can list several species when it covers a mixed parcel (Defra FAQ Q2.8).

B, the registration number. Every business that issues plant passports is registered with its plant health authority: APHA in England and Wales. B is that business’s number. It tells you who issued the passport, which is not always the shop you bought from.

C, the traceability code. A code the issuer chooses, such as a batch, lot or consignment number, that lets it trace the plant back through its records. GOV.UK says it is not needed for plants that are ready for sale to final users without further preparation and pose no risk of spreading quarantine pests, so some passports leave it off. More in the traceability code explained.

D, the country of origin. Where the plant was grown. "GB" covers the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland (Defra FAQ Q4.7). Otherwise it is the code or name of another country. GOV.UK treats the country of origin as changed once a plant has been grown on.

Both formats use the same letters, but they look different at a glance (GOV.UK, Regulation (EU) 2017/2313):

The law lists part E only "where applicable" (Annex VII). It is used for plants that move from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. Qualifying Northern Ireland goods usually arrive with their EU plant passport, which does not have to be replaced. When a business in Great Britain does replace it, GOV.UK says it must write "GB(NI)" in part E. On every other UK passport, part E is left blank.

Some areas are kept free of particular quarantine pests. Plants moving into them need a special passport, and the code printed directly under its heading names the pest it protects against.

In Great Britain the heading reads "UK plant passport - PFA (Pest-free area)", followed by the EPPO code of the pest, a short standard code for that organism. In the EU the heading reads "Plant Passport – PZ", for protected zone, with the pest’s scientific name or code underneath.

Most houseplant and garden plant sellers never need these. APHA tells a business if any of its plants need a pest-free area passport.

A passport may also carry a barcode, QR code, hologram or chip. It is optional, and GOV.UK says it does not replace the written traceability code.

On certified seed and some propagating material, the passport is printed directly above the official certification label, at the same width, as one joint label (Annex VII, Part C). See plant passports for cuttings and seeds.

For a buyer, the passport shows that the plant came from a business registered and authorised to issue plant passports, and that the plant can be traced back to it if a pest or disease turns up. Plants bought in person by home gardeners do not need a passport (Defra FAQ Q1.16), but plants sent by post or sold online do. See do I need a plant passport?

For a seller in Great Britain, getting the symbols right matters: the heading must read "UK Plant Passport", B must not start with "GB-", and every species in a parcel must be listed. The label requirements guide covers the full rules, and there is a free template. Plant Passport Ops fills A to D from your orders and prints the labels in batches, free for up to 20 passports a month.