Made in The Netherlands
The new EU plant health regulation 2016/2031 (PHR)
Since 14 December 2019, the European Plant Health Regulation (2016/2031/EU) has been in effect. You may have heard about it, but what does it actually mean for growers and plant buyers?
The EU has shifted its approach from a directive to a regulation, making plant health rules stricter and more uniform across all member states. The old European Plant Health Directive 2000/29/EC has been replaced by the Plant Health Regulation 2016/2031/EU.
Here are the four main changes:
- Reassessment of so-called Q-organisms and designation of priority Q-pests.
- Introduction of a high risk plants category, temporarily prohibiting import.
- Stricter import requirements, including soil and production site regulations.
- Mandatory plant passport for all “plants for planting” in a standardized format.
Why these changes?
The EU implemented this regulation to:
- Better protect against diseases and pests while maintaining free trade.
- Act faster when new pests or diseases are detected.
- Increase traceability of plant products.
- Place more responsibility on growers and businesses.
Recent update (January 2025)
The EU has introduced updates to strengthen plant health measures:
- EU plant health emergency team – supports member states and neighboring countries in case of pest outbreaks.
- Third-country declarations – exporters to the EU must indicate measures against regulated non-quarantine pests from July 2026.
- Simplified reporting obligations – reduced administrative burdens for growers and authorities.
What does this mean for Fairplant customers?
Practically, nothing changes regarding the quality of Fairplant plants. You will continue to receive the same trusted and perfect quality. Every delivery now comes with a physical EU plant passport, now uniform across the EU, featuring the European flag and clear A+B+C+D classification.
The previous ZP,B2 code has been replaced by PZ-ERWIAM, indicating that the plants were grown in a protected area free from the bacterium Erwinia amylovora.
At Fairplant, we are fully prepared. We are approved by NAKtuinbouw to issue and print the new plant passports ourselves.
For more information or questions about the new regulation, feel free to contact Fairplant.
