Don’t put these souvenirs in your suitcase. If they detect them in your luggage, you may have a problem

A fridge magnet, a fan or a canvas bag with the name of the city are not always the best souvenirs. For many, the ideal souvenir is something you can taste, smell or grow. However, if we decide to buy this type of souvenirs, we should check whether we can definitely bring them to Poland from a given country.

Illegal transport of plants involves not only the risk of losing a holiday souvenir. If the Customs and Tax Service detects such a product in personal luggage, the traveler may face a financial penalty – warns the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), organizer of the EU Plant Health 4 Life campaign.

This is a joint initiative of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission and 33 partner countries. Its aim is to increase awareness of plant health and the impact of everyday decisions made by Europeans on the environment, food security and the economy.

The regulations, which can affect any tourist, cover much more than just exotic seedlings. Some vegetables, fruits, seeds and even cut flowers are also subject to control.

According to EFSA, Every plant or plant product imported from outside the European Union must have a phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent plant protection organizations in the country of origin. This document confirms that the product is free from diseases and pests.

But that’s not all. The transport of plants intended for planting and some fruit and vegetables requires notification to the border phytosanitary inspection. This includes, among others: peppers, eggplants, citrus fruits and root vegetables.

It is worth noting that these regulations apply not only to companies importing plants, but also to tourists who travel privately. Therefore, if we want to bring home a seedling bought during the holidays or other plant souvenirs intended for our own use, we also have to report them.

The notification is made via the TRACES NT system, used throughout the European Union. Importantly, phytosanitary inspection is paid and its cost depends on the type and quantity of plants or plant products transported.

If during inspection an illegal fruit, plant or plant is detected in the luggage, the traveler shall bear the costs of destroying or returning it.

In Poland, the State Plant Health and Seed Inspection Service (PIORiN) is responsible for supervising plant health. Inspectors carry out border controls and monitor the risk associated with the spread of pests and plant diseases. All because even a small amount of plant material imported from abroad may pose a threat to crops and the natural environment.

Stowaways – harmful organisms – pathogens, insects and fungi – may travel along with the transported seeds, fruits or seedlings. As EFSA notes, they are often invisible to the naked eye, but once they enter a new environment, they pose a serious threat to local crops, gardens and ecosystems.

The scale of the problem is huge. Pests are responsible for approximately 40 percent. losses in global food crops, and global economic losses amount to approximately USD 220 billion per year – according to EFSA data.

Experts emphasize that their spread is primarily caused by the development of international trade, but also by intensive tourist traffic.

Unfortunately, this global problem often begins with a seemingly innocent decision. The suitcase includes a delicious fruit bought at a local market, a plant picked during a trip or a seedling purchased from a farmer.

It is very important that phytosanitary regulations do not apply only to distant, exotic destinations. Valid for all countries outside the European Union.

The organizers of the Plant Health 4 Life campaign remind us that phytosanitary requirements also cover plants imported from, among others, Norway, Iceland, Great Britain and Turkey.