Export is a fundamental pillar of the Italian plant nursery industry, positioning Italy among the global leaders in the sector.

As a matter of fact, Italy ranks second in Europe and third worldwide in terms of export volume, contributing 5.2% to the global trade of plants and flowers.

However, the success of international trade increasingly depends on strict compliance with movement regulations, a complex challenge that businesses in the sector must deal with carefully.

Each country imposes specific regulations to prevent the spread of harmful organisms. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to customs delays, penalties and, in severe cases, the destruction of goods. To avoid such risks, producers must observe a series of essential requirements, including:

– Import bans on certain high-risk plant species;

– Mandatory pre-shipment treatments, such as quarantines and specific phytosanitary protocols;

– Phytosanitary certificates and passports, required to certify the compliance of exported plants.

In this context, nursery companies need reliable tools to keep up with constantly evolving regulations.

To address this need, the National Association of Nurserymen Exporters (ANVE), in collaboration with Italian Trade Agency, has developed Phytoweb, an innovative and free digital platform that helps industry operators manage phytosanitary procedures. This tool allows users to navigate through regulations and requirements with a simple click, significantly reducing the time spent searching for official information from multiple sources.

Through Phytoweb, nurserymen and exporters can access an updated database that provides:

– Specific regulations for each destination;

– A list of regulated harmful organisms;

– A catalog of authorized materials and plant species that can be exported without restrictions;

– Official and constantly updated legislative references.

The platform’s simple and intuitive interface enables users to obtain the necessary information by entering parameters such as botanical name, material type, origin and destination, pest and category of harmful organisms. By selecting the relevant data for their plants in the search fields, the system generates detailed datasheets outlining the necessary requirements that can be downloaded and printed for immediate use.

One of Phytoweb’s most innovative features is the ability to digitally generate a phytosanitary passport, available in both the standard version and for Protected Zones. This document ensures the traceability and safety of exported plants, allowing businesses to operate in full compliance with European regulations while minimizing the risk of bureaucratic errors.

Movement regulations are not just regulatory constraints but essential tools for preserving crop health and ensuring the quality and safety of the plant nursery trade. For this reason, Italian Trade Agency and ANVE continue to implement Phytoweb, providing industry professionals with concrete support to tackle export challenges.

With Phytoweb, exporting plants and flowers no longer means blindly navigating through regulations and restrictions but moving towards new international opportunities with confidence and expertise.