Author: Vissership

From 23 April 2026, new European import requirements will apply to seed lots and young plants of host species of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff) originating from countries outside the EU. These measures follow Regulation (EU) 2025/1316, which entered into force in July 2025 after several detections of Cff in international seed movements.

The new rules replace earlier temporary measures and focus entirely on preventing the introduction of Cff through seed.

Which species are covered by the new requirements?

The import requirements apply to seed and young plants of the following host species:

• Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean)
• Phaseolus coccineus (runner bean)
• Phaseolus lunatus (lima bean)
• Glycine max (soybean)
• Vicia faba (faba bean / broad bean)
• Vigna angularis (adzuki bean)
• Vigna mungo (urad bean)
• Vigna radiata (mung bea)
• Vigna unguiculata (cowpea / yardlong bean)

All other seeds fall outside the scope of these new measures.

New import requirements: four routes to demonstrate that material is free from Cff

From 23 April 2026, every consignment must comply with one of the following requirements:

1. The country of origin is officially declared free from Cff.
2. The production area is officially declared free from Cff.
3. The production site is under official supervision and the material has been confirmed free from Cff.
4. The seed lot has been tested prior to export and found free from Cff.

The exporter must demonstrate which route applies. This must be stated in the English-language additional declaration on the phytosanitary certificate.

Important:

• Phytosanitary certificates issued on or after 23 April 2026 without the required additional declaration → the consignment will be refused.
• Certificates issued before 23 April 2026 → the inspector will point out the new requirements but will not refuse the consignment.
• If the additional declaration is missing, the owner of the consignment must request a replacement certificate from the NPPO of the exporting country.

Mandatory import inspections

From 23 April 2026, the following species become subject to mandatory import inspection:

• Phaseolus lunatus
• Vigna angularis
• Vigna mungo
• Vigna radiata
• Vigna unguiculata

These species will be added to Annex XI of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.

The existing inspection requirement remains in place for:

• Phaseolus vulgaris
• Phaseolus coccineus
• Glycine max
• Vicia faba

Consignments containing species that are subject to inspection must be registered for import control.

End of mandatory sampling at import

With the introduction of the new import requirements, the random sampling of seed lots of:

• Phaseolus vulgaris
• Phaseolus coccineus

The EU is shifting from laboratory-based sampling to documentary assurance, relying on additional declarations on the phytosanitary certificate and targeted import inspections.

What does this mean for your organisation?

• Verify whether your species fall under the new requirements.
• Inform suppliers in third countries about the mandatory additional declarations.
• Ensure that phytosanitary certificates issued on or after 23 April 2026 are correctly completed.
• Register consignments of species subject to inspection for import control.
• Update internal procedures now that sampling at import is no longer required.

hese changes are structural and require close coordination between exporters, importers and inspection services.

More information can be found on the official website of the NVWA.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

The European Union is working on a major revision of the rules for seeds, seedlings, and other plant reproductive material. The current legislation consists of several outdated directives that no longer reflect today’s practices. With the new PRM Regulation, the EU aims to introduce a modern, clear, and uniform system for all Member States.

This change affects everyone who works with seeds: from small seed companies and webshops to large breeders, professional growers, and active hobby gardeners.

Why is new EU legislation being introduced?

The EU wants to make the system simpler, more future‑proof, and better aligned with the needs of the sector. There are several reasons for this:

• the current rules are fragmented
• registration procedures are heavy and costly
• biodiversity and climate adaptation require more attention
• the legislation does not align well with modern breeding techniques and digitalisation

The PRM Regulation is intended to address these issues while creating a clearer and more efficient system.

What will change in practice?

The proposal introduces a clearer classification of plant reproductive material. Although the exact terms may still change, the direction is clear: different levels of requirements will apply depending on the type of material and its intended use.

Certified material will remain available for professional use. Standard material will also continue to exist for less regulated applications. In addition, it will become easier to market varieties with lower uniformity requirements, such as traditional or regional varieties. Material with greater genetic diversity will also be given a place within the system, offering more opportunities for companies working with robust or climate‑adaptive populations.

One digital EU catalogue

A major change is the digitalisation of the registration system. The EU intends to create a single central catalogue listing all authorised varieties. This will replace national registers and make cross‑border trade easier.

DUS testing will remain mandatory, but modern techniques such as DNA analysis may be used to support the process. Requirements for varieties intended for biodiversity or hobby use will be relaxed, making registration faster and more affordable.

Clearer rules for seed exchange

The proposal makes a clear distinction between commercial trade and non‑commercial exchange. The EU intends to allow individuals to exchange small quantities of seeds with one another, as long as this is not done commercially. For businesses, this provides greater clarity: exchanging is allowed, selling without registration is not.

Greater focus on biodiversity

The EU is giving biodiversity a more prominent role in the new system. Traditional and regional varieties are important for natural resistance, local adaptation, and flavour. For this reason, varieties with lower uniformity requirements will be easier to authorise. This creates new opportunities for anyone working with heirloom varieties, local landraces, niche crops, or robust populations.

What does this mean for the sector?

The new rules will affect all actors working with plant reproductive material. In broad terms, the PRM Regulation means that:

• it will become easier to legally market less uniform or traditional varieties
• registration procedures will become faster and more accessible
• a single EU catalogue will make trade within Europe more transparent
• administrative burdens will decrease thanks to digitalisation
• quality standards will become clearer and more consistent
• rules for non‑commercial seed exchange will be clearly defined
• the system will better reflect modern cultivation, climate challenges, and new breeding techniques

Whether you run a small seed company, work as a large‑scale breeder, manage a webshop, or are active as a grower or hobby gardener, the new regulation will bring more transparency, less fragmentation, and greater room for diversity.

When will this take effect?

The exact date has not yet been determined. The proposal was published in 2023, the European Parliament has adopted its position, and negotiations with the Council are ongoing. The final text is expected in the coming years, followed by a transition period. Nothing will change immediately, but it is wise to keep an eye on further developments.

More information can be found on the official website of the European Commission and EUR‑Lex document COM(2023) 414 final.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

More and more countries are switching to the digital exchange of phytosanitary certificates. The IPPC ePhyto Solution has now reached the milestone of 100 active participating countries. This development strengthens its position as the international standard for safe, efficient and reliable trade in plants and plant products.

The growth is clearly reflected in the numbers: around 300,000 phytosanitary certificates are now exchanged digitally each month. To support this increase effectively, the IPPC is working to further strengthen data quality and technical stability.

New implementations and international projects

The IPPC supports several countries in their transition to ePhyto. For example, a European Commission‑funded programme is underway to digitalize phytosanitary trade between the EU and five Central African countries. This includes training, capacity building, interoperability and IT support.

In addition, Angola has recently gone live with the Generic ePhyto National System (GeNS), and the first digital certificates have been successfully exchanged. This marks an important step in the further expansion of the global ePhyto network.

Improvements to the Hub and GeNS

Between late 2025 and early 2026, several system updates were implemented. These focused on:

• improved data quality and harmonization
• more stable connections between systems
• enhanced user experience
• multilingual support, including an Arabic certificate template
• updated reference data and validation rules

These improvements aim to enable smoother exchanges, fewer error messages and more reliable service delivery.

Growth

With the expansion to 100 countries and the ongoing technical improvements, ePhyto is being adopted more widely across the globe. This results in faster processes, lower costs and a more reliable trade chain for all parties involved.

More information can be found on the official IPPC website.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

Anyone who treats seeds with a plant protection product gives young plants better protection against pests and diseases. At the same time, you must comply with strict European and Dutch regulations.

These rules ensure that both professional growers and home gardeners can work safely with treated seed and know exactly which substances have been used.

When are you allowed to treat seeds?

In the Netherlands, you may only treat seeds with plant protection products that are specifically authorised for this purpose. If you sell the treated seeds within the European Union, the product used must also be approved in at least one EU Member State. When exporting treated seeds to countries outside the EU, different labelling requirements may apply. For that reason, it is important to always check the national regulations of the destination country.

What information must appear on the label?

The label of treated seed must be complete and easy to understand. For that reason, you must include:

• the name of the plant protection product in the language of the country where the seed was treated
• the active substance(s) exactly as listed in the product authorisation
• the relevant warning statements (P‑statements) that explain how users should handle the treated seed safely
• the risk‑mitigation measures (restriction statements) taken from the legally required instructions for use

If you sell the treated seeds in another EU Member State, you may add additional languages to the label, as long as the product and the active substances are exactly the same.

Not enough space on the label?

Sometimes the label does not offer enough room for all mandatory information. In that case, you may include an additional document. The label must refer to this document, and the document must refer back to the label. This ensures that all information remains complete and traceable. The document may only contain mandatory information and must not include advertising or other commercial content.

For consumer packaging, each individual packet must be accompanied by its own document. For professional growers, one document per box is sufficient.

Re‑labelling remains allowed

If you use existing packaging, you may place new labels over old labels or over pre‑printed packaging. As long as the information is correct and complete, you comply with the requirements.

Where these rules come from

The legal basis for the labelling of treated seed is laid down in Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, Article 49(4). In addition, the European Union is developing a more detailed guidance document that will further clarify how these rules should be applied in practice.

More information can be found on the official website of the NVWA.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

Phytosanitary regulations within the EU continue to evolve, and an important change will take effect on 6 July 2026.

From that date onward, phytosanitary certificates for import must include a complete RNQP endorsement on the phytosanitary certificate, covering all relevant requirements for regulated non‑quarantine organisms (RNQP’s). This requirement is an addition to the existing obligations for EU quarantine organisms (Q‑organisms).

For both importers and exporters, this means that certificates must be prepared with greater accuracy. If the endorsement is missing in whole or in part, or if it is incorrect, the inspection service will hold the shipment until a correct replacement certificate has been submitted.

What exactly is changing?

The new requirement applies exclusively to plants intended for planting. The EU regulates RNQP organisms only for this category. This includes cuttings, young plants, seeds, and other plant material intended for further cultivation.

The additional endorsements that become mandatory from 2026 are described in EU Regulation 2025/2249. This makes it clearer for import shipments which RNQP requirements the exporting country has checked and confirmed.

Key considerations for exporters in third countries

For exporters outside the EU, it is important to anticipate these new requirements in good time. The wording of the RNQP endorsements is very similar to that of Q‑organisms, but there are several important nuances:

• Some products require multiple endorsements.
• RNQP requirements are linked to plant species, product category, and intended use.
• Different requirements may apply to the same plant species, depending on its intended use.
  For example: seeds of a particular species intended for ornamental use may have different RNQP requirements than seeds of the same species intended for use as an oilseed or fibre crop.

The EU publishes minimum wording for each product category (Annex V). In addition, just as with Q‑organisms, a “Checklist RNQP endorsements” will be introduced in due course to help exporters prepare certificates correctly.

Stricter document checks from 6 July 2026

From the date of entry into force, the inspection service — such as Naktuinbouw — will verify during the document check whether:

• the endorsements for Q‑organisms are correct, and
• the new RNQP endorsements are fully and accurately included.

If this is not the case, the inspection service will hold the shipment. Only once a correct replacement certificate has been submitted and the inspection service finds no regulated organisms will the shipment be released.

What does this mean for businesses?

For importers and exporters in the ornamental plant sector, nursery stock, and vegetable seeds, this change means that:

• certificates must be checked more carefully before shipment
• exporters in third countries must be informed in good time about the new requirements
• incomplete or incorrect certificates may lead to delays and additional costs

It is therefore advisable to start preparing processes, documentation, and communication with foreign suppliers well in advance.

More information can be found on the official website of the Naktuinbouw and NVWA.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

The European CERTEX system automatically checks whether a validated CHED‑PP is available in TRACES before a customs declaration can be submitted. As a result, document control within the EU is becoming further automated and harmonised.

The change applies to all consignments subject to phytosanitary inspection. Without a validated CHED‑PP, no phytosanitary clearance will be granted. For products that are certificate‑only, nothing changes.

Key points:

• The use of a dummy CHED number will no longer be permitted as of 2 March.
• The N0003 procedure will be discontinued for phytosanitary clearance.
• In the case of a partial rejection, the NVWA manually finalises the approved part in TRACES.
• If errors occur in CLIENT or the CHED‑PP, a replacement CHED‑PP must be created.
• Extra attention is required for consignments routed through other EU Member States, organic products, and situations where article codes or quantities do not match.
• Creating a CHED‑PP may sometimes be delayed, for example due to incorrect CN codes or slow message traffic.

This change has a significant impact on import processes. A correct and timely notification in CLIENT, as well as a validated CHED‑PP in TRACES, will therefore be essential from 2 March onward to ensure smooth customs clearance.

More information can be found on the official website of the NVWA.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

An important change is coming to the way Naktuinbouw remotely endorses phytosanitary certificates.

The process is being further streamlined. This means that the procedure for applying for phytosanitary certificates will change. The goal is to work faster, more clearly, and more efficiently, ensuring that the logistics process is not unnecessarily delayed.

Two types of processes for remote endorsement::

1. No underlying documents required

If no additional documents are required, the process remains straightforward. You submit an inspection request to the correct endorsement location. Naktuinbouw then reviews the request remotely and endorses the certificate once everything is in order.

2. Underlying documents required

Sometimes additional documents are required, such as import certificates or coverage documents. Until now, these were submitted by email, but this will change as of 2 March 2026.From that date onwards, you will upload all required documents through a digital form. This makes the process more structured and significantly less prone to errors.

How does the assessment work

After the assessment, you will receive feedback at the email address you provided. If the certificate cannot be endorsed, the system will automatically send a return message. This allows you to see immediately what needs to be corrected.

Why this change?

The purpose of remote endorsement is to make the process faster and more efficient. Endorsement is carried out based on the information provided in the application and, when required, the underlying documents. By using a digital form, the process becomes more uniform, clearer, and less prone to errors compared to submitting documents by email.

You can find more information on the official Naktuinbouw website.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”

The ePhyto system is now actively used by an increasing number of countries to send phytosanitary certificates to the EU in a fully digital format.

What is an ePhyto, and why is it becoming increasingly important?

An ePhyto, the electronic phytosanitary certificate,is the digital version of the traditional paper certificate. Exporting countries use this document to demonstrate that plants and plant products meet the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. Within the European Union, all ePhytos are exchanged digitally via TRACES, the EU’s official platform for certification and import control.

Third countries may only send ePhytos to the EU once they have received authorization from the European Commission. An ePhyto is only considered valid once it has been digitally registered in TRACES.

Countries authorized to issue ePhytos

An increasing number of countries have been recognized by the EU to issue electronic phytosanitary certificates. Once a country has been approved, it no longer needs to send a paper certificate. However, an ePhyto is not available for every shipment; this varies per exporting party. If no ePhyto is available, a paper certificate with a wet signature and stamp is still required.

Countries authorized to issue ePhytos for export to the EU

Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Fiji, Philippines, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Israel, Côte d’Ivoire, Jamaica, Jordan, Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritania, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia, United States, United Kingdom, United Kingdom Scotland, South Africa, and the five French overseas territories (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, and Réunion).

No ePhyto and no paper certificate?

The shipment can only be released once a replacement certificate has been provided, such as:

• a new original paper certificate with a wet signature and stamp
• a printout of an electronic certificate whose authenticity can be verified (for example via QR code or an official statement from the authority)

Note: For shipments entering the EU through another Member State and subsequently redirected to the Netherlands, a copy of the paper certificate or a printout of the electronic certificate is sufficient, provided it is accompanied by the authorized for transfer CHED.PP.

ePhytos for re‑export

For re‑export it may be necessary to convert paper certificates into electronic certificates, or vice versa. The steps you need to take depend on the specific situation and the destination country.

More information can be found on the official website of the NVWA.

Looking for reliable phytosanitary guidance?

Get in touch with the Vissership Phytosanitary Service today, also for import and export support!

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“Stay up to date with the latest changes in phytosanitary country requirements, fully tailored to your products!”