A yellow suitcase and a straw hat on top of a rock overlooking a mountainous landscape with clouds and a village below.

Travelling and plants

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Travelling the world? Be plant-aware.

Plant pests love to travel. And they move fast.

In October 2013, Xylella fastidiosa was detected for the first time in Italy. This plant pathogenic bacteria most probably came into EU from North, Central or South America, where in many areas it is widely spread.

The result? A devastating environmental and economic crisis.

In Italy’s Puglia region, it wiped out a third of 60 million olive trees, causing over one billion euros in losses. The bacterium has since also been discovered in France, Spain and Portugal.

So, how do we stop this from happening again?

By tightening control over what comes into the EU: not just at borders and ports, but also in our luggage.

Photographing

Love it and leave it

Did you know that all plants and plant products, and even cut flowers, must have a phytosanitary certificate to legally enter the EU?

The national plant protection authorities of countries outside the EU are trusted with issuing phytosanitary certificates. This documentation, which is issued to traders of plants and plant products, states that the goods are pest-free and fit for export.

(Once the goods reach EU shores, they have to be inspected again and then must be given a plant passport, which authorises their journey across the European Union. )

When we travel abroad, it’s tempting to bring home souvenirs like a pretty seedling from a jungle trek, a sprig of greenery from a hike, or a handmade wreath from a local market.

They might seem harmless. They might even pass through customs unnoticed. But unless they carry the correct authorisation, they could carry pests that destroy European ecosystems.

So, if you're exploring beyond the EU or visiting our overseas territories[1] , leave plants and plant products behind to help protect our native species and keep our ecosystems thriving.

Suitcase

Nothing to declare? Let’s see…

Fresh fruit in your carry-on might seem like a healthier choice than airplane snacks, but it could be harbouring harmful pathogens or pests.

Before you board your return flight, take a moment to check your hand luggage and your checked bags for parts of a plant (leaves, twigs, roots etc) or plant-derived souvenirs.

Not only will you avoid fines at customs, you’ll also be playing your part in protecting Europe’s gardens, forests, and crops.

Become a travel influencer for plant health

Social media is a powerful tool for shaping habits and sparking trends. YOU can help make plant health part of the conversation

Research shows that awareness among travellers of the biosecurity risks of bringing foreign plants into the EU is low. Your voice can help change this.

So next time you post your nature-inspired photos, add the hashtag #PlantHealth4Life.

You never know who you might inspire.

Download the #PlantHealth4Life social media kit and join the movement to protect our ecosystems from plant pests and pathogens.

Download the #PlantHealth4Life social media kit

[1] The EU’s overseas territories include: Greenland, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, New Caledonia, Saint Barthélemy, St. Pierre et Miquelon, and the Wallis et Futuna Islands.