Published on 28 May 2025

Importing plants

If you are planning on importing plants or plant products such as fruit, seeds, cut flowers or wood into Switzerland from another country, you need to observe the applicable provisions. Imports carry the risk of spreading dangerous diseases and pests.

© PhotoAC

The most important information in brief

• When importing plants and plant material, regulations apply that must be taken into account.
• If plants are imported from EU countries, a plant passport is usually required.
• If plants are imported from non-EU countries, a phytosanitary certificate is required.
• The import of certain plants from non-EU countries is completely prohibited.
• The import of soil and organic substrate from non-EU countries is prohibited. In some cases, an exemption permit can be issued.
• Fruits of pineapples, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates may be imported into Switzerland from any country without a phytosanitary certificate.
• The aim of the applicable provisions is to protect the health of our plants by preventing the introduction and spread of dangerous diseases and pests.

Importing from the EU and Liechtenstein

The bilateral Agreement on Agriculture between Switzerland and the EU ensures uniform rules for the import and export of plants and plant material within Switzerland, the EU and Liechtenstein. The plant passport governs import/export within this region.

This applies to private individuals, companies and professionals

Image of a plant passport from the EU (left) and from Switzerland (right) — © Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG

Certain plant goods require a plant passport in order to be imported into Switzerland or exported to the EU. No plant passport is required for any other plant goods.

Plants that are carried in personal luggage or as household goods when moving house do not require a plant passport. A plant passport is required for goods sent by post or courier.

Fruits, vegetables and cut flowers may be imported and exported without a plant passport.

Further information on the plant passport can be found on the Plant Passport System page.

Goods requiring a plant passport

• Plants and parts of plants which are intended to remain planted, to be planted or to be replanted, such as potted plants, seedlings, cuttings, tissue cultures, bulbs, tubers and plant arrangements in bowls.
• Seed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), pines (Pinus), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).
• Citrus fruits, with leaves and peduncles still attached.
• Wood obtained from walnut trees (Juglans), plane trees (Platanus) and wingnut trees (Pterocarya).
• Parts of plants (other than fruits and seeds) of Mexican orange blossoms (Choisya), citrus plants (Citrus), kumquats (Fortunella), trifoliate oranges (Poncirus), white sapotes (Casimiroa), wampis (Clausena), orange jasmine/curry trees (Murraya), Vepris, Zanthoxylum and grapevines (Vitis).

Forest reproductive material

Imports of forest reproductive material, such as seeds, cuttings, etc. require a licence issued by the Federal Department for the Environment (FOEN) (webpage available in German, French and Italian).

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The provisions for plant species subject to the CITES Convention apply. Information about species protection can be obtained from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO).

Good to know

• Since 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom (with the exception of Northern Ireland) is considered a non-EU country for the import and export of plant products.
• In phytosanitary terms, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla and the French overseas departments and territories are considered non-EU countries.

Importing from non-EU countries

Online commerce — © AdobeStock

Imports of plant material such as fruit, vegetables, seedlings, seeds or other fresh plant material must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, or may be prohibited altogether under certain circumstances. In addition, the goods must be inspected by the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS).

Fruits of pineapples, coconuts, durians, bananas and dates may be brought into Switzerland from any country without a phytosanitary certificate.

The import regulations for plant products are based not only on the phytosanitary certificate, but also on the country of origin, the plant genus or the parts of the plant and what they are used for. Legislation is constantly being updated. It is therefore advisable to obtain information in advance from the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS) about the import regulations ([e-mail]).

Import options

• Plants sent by post or courier

  If plant products are imported from a non-EU country by post or courier, the package must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.
  The courier service charges a fee for handling, which includes a phytosanitary fee of CHF 30 for private individuals and CHF 60 for companies and professionals.

  The following points should be noted:

  • The original phytosanitary certificate must be enclosed with the package. The certificate must have been issued no more than 14 days prior to being handed over to the courier service.
  • If there is an invoice, it must be enclosed with the package.
  • The contents of the package must be clearly indicated, e.g. with LIVE PLANTS/FRUITS/VEGETABLES/SEEDS.
  • The tracking number must be sent by email to [e-mail].

  Important: Certain plants may not be imported under any circumstances or are subject to species protection (CITES).

• If you personally bring a plant with you on a flight

  Once the plant goods enter Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS) inspects the plant goods and the phytosanitary certificate.

  Please be sure to respect the following terms:

  • Arrival details (flight number / arrival date and time) must be sent ahead of time by email to [e-mail] or [e-mail].
  • After arriving at Zurich, Geneva or Basel Airport, take the plant goods through customs (red door) and notify the SPPS.

  Plant protection inspections are free of charge for private individuals. Companies and professionals are charged CHF 60. Customs duties may be charged on the value of the goods.

• Plants sent to Switzerland via another EU country

  The plant health inspection must be carried out in the first EU country of entry. The goods must therefore be registered with the phytosanitary service of this country for inspection. It is recommended that you find out in good time from the phytosanitary service of the relevant EU country about the exact provisions and the procedure for the inspection. In this case, no additional inspection is necessary in Switzerland.

Companies and professionals

Companies and professionals intending to import plant products from non-EU countries that require a phytosanitary certificate must register with the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS) ([e-mail]). Only registered companies are allowed to import such plant products. Every import must be registered and checked (including shipments sent by post or courier or transported in luggage).

• Application: Companies required to register

  (only in German, French and Italian)

  PDF201.99 kB21 May 2025

Shipments of goods requiring certification must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate and must be declared to the SPPS no later than one day before import. The declaration is made via the online system TRACES. For more information on declaration and control, scroll down and click on Documentation. It is advisable to use a shipping company that is familiar with the import of plant-based goods.

The SPPS carries out controls at the Zurich and Geneva airports. Undeclared shipments can lead to delays in customs clearance.

It is recommended that you find out about the procedure and the exact provisions of the SPPS before importing plant goods ([e-mail]).

• Forest reproductive material

  The import of forest reproductive material such as seeds, cuttings, scions, etc. requires a permit from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) (web page available in German, French and Italian).

• Wood packaging

  The international trade in wood packaging harbours the risk of introducing dangerous pests such as the Asian long-horned beetle, which can quickly kill healthy trees. To minimise this risk, the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM 15) stipulates that wood packaging must be subjected to heat or gas treatment (see FOEN: Wood packaging according to ISPM 15 standard). It must either be labelled with an ISPM 15 stamp or be accompanied by a valid phytosanitary certificate.

• General import permits (GIP)

  For imports of many agricultural products, a general import permit (GIP) is required.

Prohibited plants

Plant products from certain areas can pose a risk of introducing dangerous plant diseases and pests. If the phytosanitary risk for specific products is too high (high-risk goods), their import from non-EU countries is prohibited as a precautionary measure.

For example, the import of potato tubers, vines, citrus plants and soil from all non-EU countries is prohibited.

Other prohibited plants can be found in the Plant Health Ordinance of the EAER and DETEC, Annex 5 (available in German, French and Italian), in the Ordinance on Phytosanitary Measures of the Forest of the EAER, Annex 5 (available in German, French and Italian) and in the Release Ordinance RO, Annex 2.1.

Exemptions

In certain cases (research, diagnosis, variety selection, breeding, conservation of endangered plant resources and education), an exemption may be granted for prohibited goods or those that do not meet the import conditions. Exemptions may also be requested for the handling (e.g. import and transfer) of quarantine organisms.

• Application for an exemption to import or move harmful organisms, soil or plants

  (only in German, French and Italian)

  PDF320.36 kB21 May 2025

Good to know

• Plant products that have already been processed (e.g. dried, powdered, frozen, pickled or otherwise processed plants) do not require a phytosanitary certificate and can be imported without being inspected by the phytosanitary service.
• The provisions for plant species subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) remain reserved. Information on species protection can be obtained from the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO).

Frequently asked questions

• I would like to order a houseplant from Indonesia. Is this allowed?

  The import of live plants from non-EU countries is generally subject to registration and control and only possible under certain conditions. When imported, the plants are inspected by the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (subject to a fee).
  
  General requirements for importing plants:

  • The plants must be free of soil (organic substrate)
  • The plants must be labelled with their botanical name
  • The plants must be accompanied by a valid, original phytosanitary certificate and, if necessary, a CITES certificate

  Please note: Some plants may not be imported or are subject to species protection (CITES).
  
  More specific information on the regulations can be obtained from the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS).

• I am in Thailand and love the mangoes here. Can I bring some of them back to Switzerland?

  Since 1 January 2020, plant products (plants, vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, seeds, etc.) from non-EU member states can only be imported with a valid phytosanitary certificate.
  
  The only exceptions are pineapples, bananas, dates, durians and coconuts, which can still be imported without a phytosanitary certificate,.
  
  A phytosanitary certificate issued by the phytosanitary service in the country of origin is also required for the import of mangoes.
  
  In addition, once the mangoes arrive in Switzerland, they are inspected by the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS).
  
  For more information on the conditions of imports, contact the SPPS.

• I will soon be travelling to Turkey on holiday. Can I bring spices and tea back to Switzerland for my personal use?

  Yes, processed plant products (e.g. dried, powdered, frozen, pickled or otherwise processed) do not require a phytosanitary certificate and can be imported without being inspected by the phytosanitary service.

• Am I allowed to purchase balcony plants in a garden centre in Austria and take them across the border?

  Yes, that is allowed. Generally, plants may only be imported into Switzerland or exported to the EU with a plant passport. However, an exception is made for plants that are carried in personal luggage and are not used for professional or commercial purposes. In this case, no plant passport is required.
  
  Please note: Some plants may not be imported or are subject to species protection (CITES).

• I will soon be moving from the UK to Switzerland. Can I take my house plants with me as part of my belongings?

  No, in general live plants from non-EU countries are subject to declaration and inspection. There are no exceptions for personal belongings being moved from third countries.
  
  Plants being imported are inspected by the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service or the plant protection service of the country of first entry in the EU.
  
  General requirements for importing plants:

  • The plants must be free of soil (organic substrate)
  • The plants must be labelled with their botanical name
  • The plants must be accompanied by a valid, original phytosanitary certificate and, if necessary, a CITES certificate

  Please note: Some plants may not be imported or are subject to species protection (CITES).
  
  More specific information on the regulations can be obtained from the Swiss Federal Plant Protection Service (SPPS).

  Further information

  The FOAG provides a reduced English-language version of its website that does not include all further information such as documents, legislation or links. These can be found on the pages in the three official languages (German, French and Italian).

• Legislation

  Ordinance on the Protection of Plants from Particularly Harmful Organisms
  Plant Health Ordinance, PHO of 31 October 2018

  Ordinance of the EAER and DETEC on the Plant Health Ordinance
  PHO-EAER-DETEC of 14 November 2019

  FOAG Ordinance on Phytosanitary Measures for Agriculture and Horticulture
  PhyMO-FOAG of 29 November 2019

  FOEN Ordinance on Phytosanitary Measures for the Forest
  PhyMO-FOEN of 29 November 2017

  Ordinance on the Handling of Organisms in the Environment
  Release Ordinance, RO of 10 September 2008

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