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Can I bring fresh fruit, vegetables, seedlings or seeds from a country outside the EU?

In short

Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers from countries outside the EU (except Switzerland) need a plant health certificate. The only ones allowed without a certificate are bananas, pineapples, coconuts, dates and durians. Bringing in seeds, seedlings, cuttings, bulbs and plants with roots without a certificate is forbidden.

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This rule in 55 seconds
Video transcript

Your suitcase holds fresh fruit, seedlings and seeds for the garden. It depends: Fresh fruit and vegetables need a plant health certificate. Seeds and seedlings can't come in without one either. The right way: Dried and roasted products are usually allowed. If you are not sure, take the red channel. Outcome: Without certificate: Seized and destroyed; Also: Risk of a fine; Allowed without cert.: Banana, pineapple, dates.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • Fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers need a plant health certificate (fytosanitair certificaat / certificat phytosanitaire). Seeds, seedlings and plants for planting cannot be brought in without a certificate either; some plants are completely forbidden.
  • The only fresh products you can bring without a certificate are bananas, pineapples, coconuts, dates and durians.
  • Dried, roasted or ground products (for example dried fruit, roasted hazelnuts, ground spices) are usually allowed.
  • Bringing seeds, seedlings, cuttings or plants with roots to plant in your garden without a certificate is forbidden. If they are found without a certificate, they are seized and destroyed.
  • If you are not sure, go through the red channel at customs and declare the product.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
Products without a certificate are seized and destroyed; you also risk a fine.

Legal basis:FAVV – Plants and plant products

Court / prison
You risk prosecution, especially for large amounts or if you bring it to sell.

Legal basis:Wet 2.4.1971 schadelijke organismen, art. 4 §1

What really matters: the indirect consequences

  • You will never get the product back

    Legal basis:FAVV – Plants and plant products

  • Time lost at the customs check and an official report
  • A pest that gets into your garden can also spread to the neighbours' gardens

Why does this rule exist?

Plant diseases and harmful insects can travel in luggage and threaten farming in Europe. One infected seedling can spread to the gardens and fields of a whole area.

Check your own situationSuitcase and customsComing back from outside the EU? Pack your suitcase and see what gets you into trouble at customs.

Where can you go?

  • CustomsIf in doubt, go through the red channel at the airport and ask
  • Food safety agency (FAVV / AFSCA)Rules for bringing in food and plants
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
11 / 11 statements in an official source
Checked: 22.10.2026
Last checked
22.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 11 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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