Defra issue reminder regarding place of destination (PoD) requirements
The place of destination (PoD) scheme was introduced by Defra at the end of the EU transition period on 1st January 2021 to ensure high-priority plants and plant products (which include plants for planting) can be inspected at a site designated by the importer.
In the absence of a permanent inspection venue (which will not be online until the end of 2023), this system aims to ensure plant material was inspected with minimal disruption to importers.
Defra has encouraged businesses to register as PoDs, to provide the industry with the utmost flexibility in where the physical checks are conducted. The use of PoD means plant health import inspections can be conducted at a premise most suitable for the industry in regard to resources and logistics.
PoDs must meet criteria to ensure checks on the material can be carried out effectively, and Defra has issued a reminder of what facilities inspectors need to perform checks at PoDs:
- handling equipment so that regulated material can be unloaded or loaded
- an inspection table
- adequate light source
- equipment to enable fumigant gas testing for forestry sector consignments
- access to toilets and handwashing facilities for inspectors
Regarding transport and storage requirements:
- The consignment must be closed and sealed to reduce the risk of pest contamination.
- No one should alter or amend consignments during transport or while they are stored at a place of destination
- The consignment must not leave the place of destination before it passes its physical inspection and checks.
For landscapers, this means that importers of high-priority plants and plant products will need to ensure that their designated PoD site meets the criteria for effective inspections.
As a landscaper, it is essential to understand these regulations to ensure that imported plant material complies with the regulations and is not rejected at the inspection site, resulting in a delay or financial loss.
Full details of the PoD system can be reviewed in the FAQ document, below.
Further reading