The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that, as of 19 January, the United Kingdom will be reducing the frequency of checks for four of the five cut flowers currently inspected at the British border: carnations, gypsophilas, orchids and solidagos. The frequency of chrysanthemum inspections will remain the same.
Since the beginning of 2024, carnations, solidagos, orchids, gypsophilas and chrysanthemums entering the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU needed to have a phytosanitary certificate. These cut flowers are classified as “medium risk A” in the UK, and a proportion of imports – three percent until now – is checked at the border. All other cut flowers entering the UK from the EU require no phytosanitary certificate, so they are not subject to British border controls.
In December 2025, the UK reassessed the risk of carnations, solidagos, orchids, gypsophilas and chrysanthemums introducing diseases and pests into the country. The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has subsequently decided to reduce the frequency of checks for four of these five cut-flower varieties. Since inspections have revealed only few quarantine organisms, the British will be checking 1% instead of 3% of the imported carnations, solidagos, orchids and gypsophilas as of Monday 19 January. The British will also reduce the inspection costs for these four flowers. Chrysanthemum inspections will remain at 3% for the time being, as it is less clear whether the UK can reduce the frequency of these inspections.
