Shipping plants across the country or internationally may be a tricky task, but it is definitely not an impossible one. Discover how to pack your plants for shipping with expert tips from our specialists. Follow these tips on how to ship house and outdoor plants by courier to have them delivered in the safest way possible and pay close attention to the restrictions of this service.
Plants are usually restricted or prohibited items for shipping. Please note that insurance may not apply.
BEFORE SHIPPING
If you are to send live plants using a courier or mail service, you have to take precautions to do it right. Here are a few things to bear in mind before shipping plants locally or internationally:
HOW TO SHIP
PACKING GUIDELINES
These guidelines apply to sending plants by courier if they are small enough to be shipped in a parcel comfortably. Follow the steps below when preparing your plants for transport before sending them via courier:
SHIPPING REGULATIONS
When shipping plants or seeds within the European Union, check whether it needs a phytosanitary certificate, as it depends on the type of plant you are shipping. The same recommendation goes for plant seeds delivery by courier or by mail. The European Union applies strict regulations to plants that are sent from outside the EU. However, there are no legal requirements for additional sanitary checks and certificates if you are shipping a plant that is grown and transported within the EU.
When it comes to sending plants internationally to countries outside the EU, you need to check the rules and regulations of both countries regarding international plant transport. You can find useful information through the relevant departments of agriculture.
The first step is to check whether the species of plant you want to send is allowed in the delivery country. Secondly, the sender needs to arrange all necessary documents for it to be cleared during customs clearance. In the USA, for example, one is required to have a permit for transport and transit when importing plants onto American soil. In Australia, the plant species must be listed as allowed on the BICON website and may need to go through quarantine upon arrival.
MORE INFORMATION
Not all courier companies will ship plants internationally. For example, DHL, TNT and UPS will not send parcels that contain plants. However, each courier has specific rules and requirements for different shipments and services, so we recommend checking this further with the designated courier for your route. When booking Express or Priority shipping services at Eurosender, please make sure not to include these items, as the courier will refuse to collect the parcel. If you need further assistance, you can reach us by chat, phone or email before shipping to discuss your options further.
If the specific species of plant you want to ship is allowed in the country of destination and you have all the necessary documents required for the shipment and customs clearance, sending plants overseas is possible. Always check the local authorities’ rules before shipping such items. In general, small quantities of plants, trees, or plant products could be transported internationally for non-industrial, non-commercial, or scientific purposes.
Most courier companies consider plants as restricted or prohibited items. However, many people still choose to ship plants abroad by courier or mail since sending indoor or potted plants can be great gift ideas. Make sure your plants are well-packed to withstand transit. However, please be aware that when shipping outside of the EU, every parcel (even gifts) must go through customs procedures, and the respective taxes may be applied.
The most important thing to consider when booking a plant courier service is the transit time because you have to make sure your plant can survive the duration of the journey inside the packaging. For that reason, less demanding plants such as cacti or succulents might be good options for plants to ship. Learn more about shipping succulents and cacti.
In general, it will not be difficult for you to ship such items by post domestically, even though countries like the USA apply local restrictions for interstate parcels sent via postal services. When sending seeds abroad in the mail, you need to check the import regulations and restrictions of the destination country.
Unfortunately, insurance does not apply to restricted items, such as plants. Therefore, if you choose to ship live plants abroad, be it succulents, cacti, seedlings or big plants such as fruit trees, you will be doing so at your own risk. For this reason, correctly packing your plant is of utmost importance.
Since Brexit came into effect on 1 January 2021, a phytosanitary certificate is required to ship most outdoor and house plants to the UK, as this is now considered an international border. As well as this, all plants will be inspected by customs authorities and have a physical health check at the destination.