Phytosanitary Certificate
An official certificate that plants or plant products are free from pests and meet the importing country's plant health rules.
- Issued by
- The national plant protection authority of the exporting country, after inspection.
- When it's needed
- Plants, seeds, fresh fruit and vegetables, grain, timber and other plant products, when the importing country requires it.
- Transport
- Sea, Air, Road, Rail
What it contains
- Exporter and consignee
- Botanical name and description of the products
- Quantity, packages and distinguishing marks
- Place of origin and means of conveyance
- Treatment applied, if any, and the official's signature and stamp
Practical tips
- Wooden pallets and crates don't need a certificate — they need the ISPM 15 heat-treatment mark instead.
- Book the inspection early: without the certificate the cargo can be refused or destroyed at destination.
Not sure which documents you need?
Send us the route and the goods — we'll list the documents and prepare the transport ones for you.
Contact usOther shipping documents
Bill of LadingSea WaybillAir WaybillCMR Consignment NoteRail Consignment Note (CIM, SMGS, CIM/SMGS)Shipping InstructionsCommercial InvoicePacking ListCertificate of OriginExport DeclarationTransit Declaration (T1)Dangerous Goods DeclarationShipping documents
General guidance only — requirements depend on the goods, the countries involved and the contract. We check the documents needed for every booking.
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