UK extends import ban of plant products originating in Ghana

The current legislation suspending imports of certain products from Ghana expires at the end of 2016. An EU audit took place in September 2016 which has shown that there are still significant shortcomings in the export system in Ghana and in addition EU member states (including the UK) are continuing to intercept harmful organisms on Ghanaian material. As a result it is likely that this legislation will be extended for a further period (possibly a year, but to be decided). This applies to imports of plant material (other than seeds) of:

Capsicum (sweet and Chili peppers)
Lagenaria (bottle gourd)
Luffa
Momordica L (bitter gourd)
Solanum L. (including aubergines), other than S. lycopersicum L (tomato)

Lifting of ban on the import of some plant products originating in India
As a result of a significant reduction in the interception of harmful organisms on Indian material and evidence of improvements to the phytosanitary control of exports from India, it is proposed to let the current EU legislation suspending 4 products (Colocasia sp, Momordica sp, Solanum melongena and Trichosanthes sp) expire at the end of 2016.

Restrictions on the import of curry leaves
Fresh curry leaves can only be imported from countries able to fulfil the requirements of the EU import regulations. This includes the need to originate from countries recognised as free of citrus greening disease. Currently there are no countries that have satisfied this requirement and so fresh curry leaves are not permitted to be imported into the EU. If curry leaves are imported they must be either frozen or dried at time of import.

Restrictions on trade to the Russian Federation
In August 2014 the Russian Federation introduced a ban on the import of some agricultural commodities from the whole of the EU including the UK. This includes fruit and vegetables.

The Russian Federation had extended the ban to August 2016, but the ban is now on-going.

If you are exporting products to the Russian Federation from the UK, which were originally from outside the EU, you are advised to request a phytosanitary certificate from the original country’s plant health authority before exporting the consignment to the EU - even if your product does not need a certificate to enter the EU.

Source: UK Government