Manage the importation/exportation of plant material

This standard is for those working in the horticulture sector who manage the importation and exportation of plant material, ensuring that legal requirements, including quarantine, are met.

For the purpose of this standard, the term 'plant material' includes living plants, propagation material and plant derivatives.

You must carry out your work in a way which will minimise the impact on the natural environment.

1. apply for an import/export licence for plant material
2. apply for a plant passport
3. apply for permission to collect plant material from National Plant Collections and the wild
4. secure a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permit for the movement of controlled material
5. confirm plant material is sourced from responsible sources
6. maintain data in order to track plant material, subject to restrictions
7. confirm plant material is correctly prepared for shipping
8. implement a management process for quarantine of plant material
9. implement a management process for control of alien weeds and invasive species
10. implement a management process for the control of pests or diseases
11. confirm seed cleaning is carried out correctly
12. confirm the transfer of in vitro plant material is carried out appropriately
13. maintain communication with colleagues and others involved in, or affected by, your work
14. carry out your work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and organisational policies

1. relevant legislative requirements affecting plant sourcing, propagation and distribution including CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and invasive species legislation
2. the obligations for plant movement under the CBD
3. how to identify the plants covered by CITES and the requirements for CITES permits
4. legislative, government department and international requirements for plant importation, plant health and movement of plant material
5. intellectual property (IP) protection for new varieties of plants, registered trademarks and plant breeders' rights in different locations
6. plant passport systems
7. quarantine procedures for plant materials
8. the management and control of alien weeds, protected species, pests and diseases, biosecurity and invasive plant species.
9. ways to mitigate loss of perishable living plant material
10. the importance of removing soil and the stress this may cause the plant
11. plant health requirements and the impact of importing and exporting
12. the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work and how this should be done
13. the importance of following relevant environmental and ecological best practice to help minimise the impact of your work on the environment
14. your responsibilities under relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, codes of practice and organisational policies