UK plant passports explained for nurseries

What a plant passport is

A UK plant passport is an official label that goes with regulated plants and plant products when they move between businesses in Great Britain. It shows that the plants have been checked and can be traced back to where they came from.

Which plants need one

Most plants for planting moved between professional businesses need a passport, along with some seeds, bulbs, tubers and wood. Sales to the public usually don't, except in certain cases such as selling at a distance. The lists change, so check the rules for what you sell rather than relying on habit.

The four parts

Part D is where grown-on stock catches people out: plants imported and grown on for long enough can change their country of origin, while others keep it. Check the rules for the species in question before changing it.

• A — the botanical name of the plant (species, or genus where allowed)
• B — the registration number of the business issuing the passport
• C — a traceability code, often the batch or lot number
• D — the country of origin

Before you issue one

• Your business must be registered with the plant health authority and authorised to issue passports
• The plants need a visual check, recorded, before the passport is issued
• The passport has to be attached to the smallest unit you sell to another business — the plant, tray or trolley

Record keeping

Keep records of who supplied each batch and who you supplied it to, with the passport details, for at least three years. Records spread across delivery notes, invoices and spreadsheets are the hardest part of an inspection — keeping them together against the batch makes it straightforward.

Changes expected from 2027

Government guidance expects the UK–EU plant health (SPS) agreement to change how plant passports work, with changes expected from mid-2027. Details are not yet confirmed, so keep an eye on official announcements.

Where to check the official rules

• GOV.UK — plant passports and plant health guidance
• The Defra Plant Health Portal
• Your local APHA plant health inspector (England and Wales), or the Scottish Government's Horticulture & Marketing Unit (Scotland)

How HortiOwl helps

HortiOwl records passport details once, when a batch comes in, and puts them on the delivery notes and invoices for every customer that batch goes to — with traceability both ways, kept for seven years.