Plants, plant parts, fruit, vegetables, flowers and seed
When importing plants, plant parts, fruit, vegetables, flowers and seed, specific restrictions must be observed.
When imported (or in transit) from a non-EU State, plants, plant parts, fruit, vegetables, flowers or seed require a phytosanitary certificate and are subject to official controls in order to prevent the introduction of plant pests and diseases.
For individual travellers, the following goods do not require a phytosanitary certificate, and are not subject to official controls:
- Bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians from all non-EU States.
- Plants (including plants for planting), plant parts, fruit, vegetables, flowers or seed from Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Northern Island.
Plants for planting (including seed) from non-EU States other than the aforementioned always require a phytosanitary certificate .
Other plants, plant parts, fruit, vegetables or flowers from non-EU States other than the aforementioned always require a phytosanitary certificate and are also always subject to official controls.
For more information on the import provisions please contact
Official Austrian Plant Protection Service
Spargelfeldstrasse 191
1220 Vienna
Tel. +43 (05) 0555 33302 or
Tel. +43 (05) 0555 33317
E-Mail: plantprotectionservice@baes.gv.at
https://www.baes.gv.at/en/inspection/phytosanitary-service
Those goods for which a phytosanitary certificate and official controls are required must always be automatically declared at the relevant customs office upon arrival – in Austria, at the airports of Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz and Klagenfurt – accompanied by this certificate, in order for the required controls to be conducted. Thus, at these airports, the so-called "green channel" (specially-marked exit for travellers who do not have any goods to declare) may not be used, but instead, the so-called "red channel" (specially-marked exit for travellers importing goods to be declared) must always be used. Failure to observe this reporting duty may entail consequences under both tax and criminal law!
In so far as goods are also subject to official controls, entry is only possible at those customs points where such a service is available (in Austria, only at Vienna, Graz and Linz airports).
Important note
Please bear in mind in relation to the above that the Canary Islands, the French overseas departments (Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts) and St. Martin) as well as Ceuta and Melilla are considered as non-EU States for phytosanitary purposes.
Please also ensure that you are aware of any species-protection regulations!
Invasive alien species
Certain plants and reproductive parts of such plants (seeds, rooted cuttings and young plants) may also be subject to an import prohibition because they belong to invasive alien species.
A species is alien if it is a species that has been imported into the EU from its natural range and can survive and subsequently reproduce here. An alien species is invasive if its introduction or spread endangers or adversely affects biodiversity and related ecosystem services. In addition, invasive alien species can have significant adverse effects on human health and on economy.
Importation of certain plants and their reproductive parts into the EU has therefore been banned. For details and further information please see https://www.neobiota-austria.at/