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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Moving and retaining prohibited plants, plant pests, pathogens and soil

    Topics:
    • Plant and Tree Health, 
    • Import and export of plants and trees

    An application can be made for an Authorisation (formerly known as a Special Licence) to import, move or keep material that is usually prohibited because it poses a plant health risk to Northern Ireland’s crops and plants.

    This material includes:

    • plants, including parts of plants and seeds
    • invertebrate plant pests (arthropods, molluscs and nematodes)
    • plant pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses, virus-like agents and phytoplasmas)
    • soil and other organic material
    • potatoes

    You can only get an Authorisation if you’re using the prohibited material for:

    • official testing
    • scientific research
    • educational purposes
    • trials
    • testing new varieties of plants (varietal selection)
    • breeding

    If you wish to apply for an authorisation use the application form and Explanatory Leaflet and guidance notes, Click here.

    If you have any queries please email phib.admin@daera-ni.gov.uk

    Related content

    • DAERA Exports - Phytosanitary Certificate
    • Import and export of plants
    • Import and export of wood and bark
    • Introduction to personal food imports
    • Seed potatoes
    • Summary of personal food import restrictions
    • The Forest Reproductive Material (FRM) Regulations
    • Traces-NT Contingency (How to pre-notify DAERA when Traces is offline)
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