Importing maple from Ukraine: new phytosanitary requirements 2026

Key data

Importers and nurseries working with maple plants from Ukraine face new phytosanitary obligations following the publication of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/790 on 10 April 2026. This regulation amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2019 and updates the conditions that must be met to introduce these plants into the territory of the European Union.

The objective is to prevent the entry of harmful organisms that could affect plant health in the EU. For professional operators, this means reviewing protocols, documentation and inspection processes before the next consignments arrive.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/790 establishes specific import conditions for plants for planting of certain Acer species originating from Ukraine. The affected species are as follows:

The regulation requires that professional operators importing these plants comply with specific documentary requirements and undergo phytosanitary inspections before consignments can circulate in the European market. The previous framework, established by Regulation 2018/2019, is modified with respect to these species and their Ukrainian origin.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this regulation is not fiscal in nature—there are no new published fees or tariffs—but rather operational and commercial risk. The main effects for companies are:

• Certification and documentation costs: Consignments must be accompanied by the required phytosanitary documentation, which may involve additional management and certification costs at source (Ukraine) and destination (EU).
• Inspection time: Phytosanitary inspections at the border may cause delays in receiving goods, with the consequent impact on sales campaign planning.
• Risk of consignment loss: Non-compliance may result in import prohibition or destruction of consignments, with the total economic loss this entails for the importer.
• Supplier review: Nurseries working with Ukrainian suppliers must verify that they comply with the phytosanitary certification standards required by the EU.

No specific amounts of economic sanctions have been published in the available text of the regulation.

Who does it affect?

This regulation directly affects the following professional operators:

• Nurseries that import maple plants of the listed species from Ukraine for marketing or production in the EU.
• Importers and distributors of ornamental plants that work with Ukrainian suppliers of the affected species.
• Wholesale and retail traders of ornamental plants that receive consignments of maple of Ukrainian origin.
• Customs agents and logistics operators that manage the transit of these consignments at the border.
• Phytosanitary advisors and nursery technicians responsible for import documentation and protocols.

It does not affect maple plants produced within the EU or other species not included in the list of Regulation 2026/790.

Practical example

A Spanish nursery that regularly imports Acer platanoides and Acer rubrum plants from a Ukrainian supplier for its autumn campaign must now ensure that each consignment arrives accompanied by updated phytosanitary certification in accordance with the new requirements of Regulation 2026/790.

If the Ukrainian supplier does not have the required documentation or the plants do not pass the phytosanitary inspection at the EU entry point, the consignment may be retained and destroyed. For an order of, for example, 500 units of ornamental maple, this would mean the total loss of the merchandise value, plus transport and management costs already incurred.

The preventive action is clear: before placing the next order, the nursery must contact its Ukrainian supplier to confirm that it can issue the phytosanitary documentation required under the new regulatory framework.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify if you work with any of the 8 affected species from Ukraine: Acer griseum, platanoides, rubrum, saccharinum, saccharum, tataricum, tataricum subsp. ginnala or Acer × freemanii.
2. Contact your Ukrainian suppliers to verify that they can issue the phytosanitary certification required under the new Regulation 2026/790.
3. Review your import protocols and documentation to ensure they include the new documentary requirements established by the regulation.
4. Consult the full text of Regulation 2026/790 on EUR-Lex to learn the exact technical requirements and entry into force date.
5. Coordinate with your customs agent or phytosanitary advisor to update border clearance procedures and avoid consignment retention or destruction.
6. Plan order timelines with sufficient margin to absorb possible delays resulting from phytosanitary inspections at the border.