There will be changes in the restrictions on traveller imports of fresh fruit, berries and vegetables from non-EU countries as of 1 September 2019. There are certain exceptions in force until 14 December 2019, when the EU Plant Health legislation is revised.
The Council Directive on Plant Health will change on 1 September 2019. Through the revised directive, new products will be subject to the phytosanitary certificate requirement. Traveller imports from the European parts of Russia, however, is an exception. Until 14 December 2019, travellers are allowed to import three kilogrammes at most of (among others) the products listed below from the European parts of Russia without a phytosanitary certificate, if the products are for their own use:
- Strawberries
- Currants and gooseberries
- Raspberries and cloudberries
- Bog bilberries, cranberries, lingonberries and blueberries
- Apples
- Mangoes
- Granadilla, passion fruit
- Avocadoes
- Apricots, cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches
- Guava
- Pears
- Solanaceae
- Kiwifruit
- Papaya
- Oranges, bergamot oranges, grapefruit, clementines, lime, mandarine oranges, bitter oranges, pomelos, satsumas, lemons and tangerines and hybrids of these
- Grapes
The three kilogram restriction is applied for each product and each traveller and it only applies to the European parts of Russia. The Council Directive on Plant Health only applies to fresh products, not dried or frozen ones.
The new list of products that require a phytosanitary certificate as well as a guide on possible import restrictions can be found in its entirety, in Finnish and Swedish, on the Finnish Food Authority’s webpage.
More information:
Customs Information Service, tel. +358 (0) 295 5201 or Contact Customs Information
