What is the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label Scheme?
The Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) scheme is a way for growers, farmers and relevant traders in Great Britain to move plants and seeds for planting, used agricultural and forestry machinery and seed potatoes to Northern Ireland. Growers and traders must be authorised to issue and/or attach Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) scheme labels.
Requirements for the Scheme
Additional requirements need to be fulfilled to ensure that Northern Ireland’s biosecurity status is protected:
- The movement of goods is between an authorised professional operator in Great Britain and a registered professional operator in Northern Ireland
- Must meet requirements outlined in EU Regulation 2023/1231
- Pre-notification
- Record keeping
- Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) only valid for movement between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, not internally or within Northern Ireland.
- Goods moving to Northern Ireland under a Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) must remain in the UK
Registration and Authorisation
If you are involved in moving plants and other regulated objects professionally in Great Britain, you are already required to be registered with the correct competent authority.
- For businesses not currently registered, Register to become a plant health professional operator on GOV.UK.
Authorisation is required for any operator in Great Britain intending to use the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) scheme to move goods to Northern Ireland.
- Plants and seeds for planting – Information about how to Move plants and seeds from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using NI plant health labels can be found on GOV.UK
- Used agricultural and forestry machinery – guidance is provided in Move used agricultural and forestry machinery to Northern Ireland using NI plant health labels on GOV.UK
- Seed potatoes – the current competent authority responsible for issuing the Northern Ireland Plant Health Label (NIPHL) for seed potatoes is the Seed Potato Classification Scheme (SPCS). See Move seed potatoes from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using NI plant health labels on GOV.UK. Operators will still need to be authorised to attach NI Plant Health Label (NIPHL) labels to seed potatoes.
Further Guidance
Northern Ireland Plant Health Label Scheme Checklist
‘Moving plants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland’ section on GOV.UK.