We will be going to Europe in a month. Flying into London and then connecting to Denmark. I want to bring some California poppy seeds as a gift for relatives. I am planning to buy them from a commercial nursery. Does anyone know if that's allowed? I looked at the gov.uk site about what I can bring in. They talk about plants, but not seeds specifically. They aren't going to cost much, so if I have to throw them out it's not the end of the financial world, but it would good to avoid the hassle if it's not allowed.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6788 posts
I don't know about these in particular, but I can easily imagine this would not be allowed. Most countries have restrictions on bringing in plant or animal products (it's the one thing you see warnings about upon arrival almost everywhere). Bringing seeds seems like it's exactly the kind of thing they want to stop. Of course, they're mostly concerned about invasive species, but poppies...? That's where all sorts of opioid drugs come from, so rational or not, I wouldn't be surprised if this was prohibited.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17271 posts
They actually do address seeds in thispublication:
Limit is five packets of commercially packed seeds if then are “restricted.” If they are not restricted, the limit is not mentioned.
I would guess California poppies are not restricted, as you can actually buy several types from a well-known UK seed retailer, Thompson & Morgen:
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
You can buy California poppy seeds in any garden centre in the UK for less than a dollar and I presume the same is true in Denmark, so I wouldn’t risk bringing any into Europe. Is the climate right to grow them in Denmark?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33622 posts
Unless you are staying over in London your bags will be checked through to Denmark. That is where the Customs inspection will be made, if any. They are living things, you must declare them and use the red channel.
So it is Danish regulations you should be checking.
California poppy is easily available here (I have some in my garden), but these are strains that have been imported through commercial ag channels, not hand carried.
Check those Danish regulations and be prepared to lose them.
Could you consider something else with less risk?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33622 posts
From the Fedex information sheet, a decent resource:
Sanitary Certificates - Animal and Plant Health Inspections certificates are required for the importation of living plant material, including plants, plant products and seeds into Denmark.
https://smallbusiness.fedex.com/international/country-snapshots/denmark.html
Posted by
Fort Wayne, IN, USA
2349 posts
And would a sniffer dog alert to poppy seeds? I wouldn't think those seeds would be worth getting a very thorough search done on my bags.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17271 posts
California poppies ( Eschscholzia californica) are totally unrelated to the poppy (Papaver sp.) which produces culinary poppy seeds, . . . And opium. So that won’t be the problem. It is general photo sanitary rules that apply.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5359 posts
While the California poppy is in the Papaver family, it's a completely different genus than the opium poppy ( just as the apple, which is in the rosaceae family is different from a rose). So I doubt that the seeds would trigger a drug search. But they would still need an agricultural sanitary certificate.
Seems like a lot of bother for something that can be bought over there. Also, these need to be seeded into the ground in early spring. You'll be well past that by the time you get there.