To export a used agricultural or forestry machine from the UK to the EU you need a phytosanitary certificate, and the machine must be cleaned of soil and plant residue. New machines do not need the certificate. Below are the steps, documents and the check in Calais.
When exporting agricultural machinery and forestry machinery from the UK to the EU, new machines do not need a plant health certificate. Exporting used machinery, however, requires a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC).
For other plant and equipment, see industrial machinery clearance.
To secure a PC, the following steps must be followed:
Make sure the machine is thoroughly cleaned, removing all soil and plant residue. It is the exporter's responsibility to confirm that every used machine meets EU sanitary standards. Failure to meet these standards will result in the PC being refused. The machine must be inspected by a plant health inspector before export. This inspection will take place at a location deemed safe and secure, as indicated in the export application. As the exporter, you are responsible for ensuring the machine is easily accessible for inspection and secure. The machine should be ready for export at the time of inspection. In addition, the phytosanitary certificate must include your name and address.
This requirement comes from EU rules on introducing goods into the Union, not from UK export procedures: under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 (Annex XI Part A and Annex VII point 2), machinery and vehicles already operated for agricultural or forestry purposes and introduced from third countries other than Switzerland require a phytosanitary certificate with an official statement that they have been cleaned and are free from soil and plant debris. This covers, among others:
- ploughs — ex 8432 10 00,
- combine harvester-threshers — ex 8433 51 00,
- agricultural and forestry tractors — including ex 8701 94 10 (the full list of CN codes is in the regulation).
In England and Wales, you apply for a phytosanitary certificate for used farm and forestry machinery through the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service (GOV.UK); Scotland and Northern Ireland have a separate process.
For a lorry driver exporting machinery from the United Kingdom to Poland via Dover to Calais, here are concise guidelines:
Make sure the machine is clean and free of soil to meet phytosanitary requirements. Have the phytosanitary certificate issued in the United Kingdom ready for inspection. The party responsible for the consignment on the EU side (or its representative), with access to TRACES NT, must pre-notify the consignment in the system and obtain the CHED-PP, which is required for the goods to pass inspection in Calais. On arrival in Calais, be prepared to present the CHED-PP at the designated Border Control Post (BCP). Make sure all required documents, including the commercial invoice, packing list and export declaration, are available.
Follow any specific instructions provided by the customs authorities at the BCP in Calais and at any subsequent BCPs on the way to other EU countries.
Beyond the phytosanitary certificate: customs formalities
The phytosanitary certificate is only part of the formalities. The machine also needs an export declaration in the UK and an import declaration in the EU; see import from the UK to Poland and the T1 document. If you want to avoid confusion over who is responsible for what and which documents when exporting, also read Exporting to the UK — who is responsible for clearance and documents. Need help? Get in touch — we are a customs agency registered in CDS, with a UK EORI number.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a phytosanitary certificate for every used agricultural machine?
Yes. Every used agricultural or forestry machine brought into the EU from a third country (other than Switzerland) needs a phytosanitary certificate with an official statement that it has been cleaned and is free of soil and plant residue. New machines do not need the certificate.
What steps lead to a phytosanitary certificate?
Thoroughly clean the machine of soil and plant residue, make it available to a plant health inspector at the secure location named in the application, and the certificate is issued after a successful inspection. The certificate must include your name and address.
Where do I apply for a phytosanitary certificate?
Certificates are issued by the UK plant health authorities. In England and Wales you apply online through the Apply for plant export certificates and inspections service on GOV.UK; in Scotland and Northern Ireland a separate procedure applies. TRACES NT is an EU system and is not used to obtain a UK phytosanitary certificate.
What happens if I do not have a phytosanitary certificate?
The consignment may be held or refused at the border, which means delays and extra costs such as storage. Have the certificate ready for inspection.
Which documents are needed at Calais?
The UK-issued phytosanitary certificate, the CHED-PP number generated in TRACES NT, the commercial invoice, the packing list and the export declaration. They are checked at the Border Control Post (BCP) in Calais.
What are CHED-PP and TRACES NT and who handles them?
TRACES NT is the EU system for pre-notifying consignments, and the CHED-PP is the Common Health Entry Document for plants and plant products, including used agricultural machinery. The notification is made by the party responsible for the consignment on the EU side, or its representative with TRACES NT access.
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