According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States, you can transport plants on airplanes. The TSA permits both carry-on and checked luggage to contain plants. However, you should be aware that the on-duty TSA personnel have the authority to refuse anything and will decide what you can bring through security.
When traveling abroad or to Hawaii, it is more difficult to bring plants on a plane. Make sure to do your study well in advance to determine whether any licenses are necessary and to learn whether any plants need to be quarantined or banned. If you want further details, get in touch with the nation’s agriculture department.
On a plane, are bulbs allowed?
Most of the time, packing anything readily breakable in your suitcase doesn’t seem like a good idea (carry-on or checked). Surprisingly, however, the TSA has no issues with travelers bringing light bulbs inside either. We’re not really clear why it would be necessary for you to bring light bulbs in your carry-on. However, if you do, you may rest assured that TSA personnel won’t stop you.
Are flower bulbs permitted on flights in the UK?
Flowers, seeds, and bulbs may be taken, but nothing in soil may be taken, including bulbs that are in pots. If you are bringing bulbs, make sure to pack them securely in your luggage. There is no reason to bring them separately, and doing so will only increase the weight of your bag.
Can you return with bulbs from Amsterdam to the UK?
You are allowed to import any plant products into the EU as long as they were cultivated there, are free of pests and diseases, and are for your own consumption.
Can I bring a lamp in my carry-on luggage?
The possibility of a desk lamp starting a fire aboard a plane is another frequently asked concern.
The short answer is no, using desk lighting on an airplane is entirely safe.
They are powered by universally accepted 110v or 220v electrical outlets. Desk lamps are therefore permitted to be brought onto any aircraft.
Hundreds of airlines, including the biggest US carriers, have certified this desk lamp for use in flights. It is an LED desk lamp that consumes 9 watts of power.
As long as the lamp isn’t too heavy, you can bring it on the plane.
No one at TSA will care if you decide to bring a hand lamp on board. If the desk lamp does not comply with their rules, they will not let you board the aircraft (e.g., desk lamp is too big).
Desk lamps are permitted as carry on items as long as they comply with the size requirements set forth by your airline.
Can you take plants abroad with you?
Many agricultural goods that may bring foreign pests and diseases that threaten American agriculture and the environment are restricted or prohibited from entering the country. A significant pest or disease epidemic might result in increased food prices, food shortages, and devastating losses for our farmers and ranchers. By adhering to the recommendations on this page regarding products you might want to import into the United States, you can help us maintain the health of American agriculture.
All agricultural items must be declared on the U.S. Customs forms submitted by visitors upon entry to the country. Agricultural inspectors from the United States will inspect your goods to make sure they comply with import regulations and don’t contain any dangerous foreign pathogens or pests. The ultimate decision on whether or not your products can enter the country rests with U.S. inspectors. As evidence of the nation of origin of agricultural products, we advise you to maintain the original packaging and sales receipts.
Even if an inspection decides that the agricultural items you are bringing cannot enter the nation, as long as you declare every one of them, you will not be penalized.
Are you making a land-based trip from Canada? Learn which plants, seeds, cut flowers, and foliage you CAN and CANNOT carry across Canada’s land border to the United States. The advice provided below is for air travelers.
Can I bring flowers in my carry-on?
As long as the flowers aren’t placed in liquid—airlines have a maximum of 100ml of fluids per container, which should be carried in a see-through bag—internal flights appear to be rather straightforward. Although this quantity of water would be plenty for a single rose, it is still not in a sealed container and is therefore forbidden.
Other than that, you should be alright as long as the flowers fit in the overhead compartment or beneath the seat in front of you.
Can plants be carried in hand luggage in the UK?
Things not permitted in hand luggage: The cheese Camembert may become liquid while in flight.
When picking and putting together gifts, travelers must keep luggage constraints in mind.
Jams, chutneys, honeys, and syrups are examples of foods that are considered to be liquids. Therefore, if you choose to purchase any of these items from a European Christmas market, make sure they are under 100ml or pack them in your checked luggage.
An oenophile might love a corkscrew as a Christmas present, but airport security will not appreciate it. If you purchase one of these as a memento over the holiday season, be sure to store it in your hold luggage because if you travel with it in your hand luggage, it will be confiscated at security.
Only one lighter is permitted on board, and it must be maintained “on your person” the whole trip. Smokers love lighters as gifts, but if you pack more than one in your hand luggage, the airport security staff will get to keep them.
Christmas items banned from a flight
Due to the explosive nature of these party favorites, they cannot be brought on board airplanes or packed in carry-on luggage. Despite having a low explosive level, they nevertheless constitute a security risk and, if your luggage is halted, might cause your holiday party plans to fizzle out rather than go off with a bang.
Even though chestnuts roasting over an open fire is a traditional Christmas delicacy, traditions won’t be too happy about it. From anywhere in the EU, as well as from the majority of European and Mediterranean nations (including Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco), you are permitted to bring up to 2 kg into the UK. However, if you are flying in from anywhere else, you will not be permitted to bring in even one item—not even in your hold luggage.
Almost all plants can enter the UK if they come from an EU country, but if not, many of them, including all citrus and vine plants, will be seized at customs. Therefore, refrain from taking back olive plants from Northern Cyprus or lemon trees from the Canaries (both of these places count as outside the EU).
Each person is only permitted to have one tree, wreath, or spray, and even then, it must be from the EU, Europe, or the Mediterranean. Additionally, Christmas trees shall not exceed a height of three meters.
What can I take on board? The following items are fine to take in hand luggage or checked bags
items that are substantial, like Christmas cake, cookies, and chocolates (just remember to pack them securely to avoid them getting squashed in transit)
You are allowed to bring solid soaps on board because they are not considered liquids in hand luggage. Bath salts rather than bath bombs should be used in the airport to avoid confusion with security.
Although there are size restrictions and some airlines do not allow additional hand luggage, you can bring musical instruments on board as gifts. However, you will need to pack them in, or in place of, one of your carry-on bags because of these restrictions. Read the list of cabin luggage limitations for major airlines provided by Skyscanner and check with the airline in advance if you need to reserve a spot.
Some recreational goods, such as skateboards, rollerblades, and ice skates, which may also be gifts, are permitted as hand luggage on airplanes.
Can I take wrapped gifts on board the plane?
The airport security scanners shouldn’t have a problem with your wrapped gifts being in your hand luggage providing there are no prohibited goods within. All of your meticulous labor, however, might be rewrapped by an airport employee if anything seems suspicious. It is safer to store your gifts in hold luggage or in gift bags that can be removed with ease.
Can I take alcohol on a flight?
If you’d like, you can bring back lots of holiday alcohol to the UK as long as it is in your checked luggage. If you are arriving from within the EU, you are allowed to bring 110 liters of beer, 90 liters of wine, and 10 liters of spirits, however if you are coming from outside the EU, you are only allowed to bring 16 liters of beer, four liters of wine (not sparkling), and one liter of spirits.
Alcohol purchased duty-free at the airport and still sealed in the bag with the receipt is permitted in cabin baggage, but if your aircraft has a stopover, it might be seized when you walk through security at the transfer airport. Purchase on your return leg to prevent disagreements.
Can I import tulip bulbs into the UK?
The types of plants, seeds, and other plant products that may be imported into the UK from foreign nations are subject to a number of limitations. This is crucial because pests and illnesses that can create major environmental and agricultural issues in other nations can be carried by plants and plant waste.
Importing from an EU country
You can carry any plants, seeds, bulbs, or similar plant goods back to the UK after leaving certain European Union (EU) nations and other designated nations if you meet the following conditions:
- They were raised in an EU nation (or a nation that is considered an EU nation for these purposes, below);
- The Plant Health (England) Order 2005 states that they are free of pests and diseases.
- ;
- They are for your own private use only.
Before they can bring such goods into the UK, commercial importers must acquire a license.
Which countries are within the EU?
The following nations are considered to be part of the EU for the purposes of these regulations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus (only those areas that are effectively under the control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the UK (including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
Andorra, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, San Marino, Switzerland, and the Vatican City are additional EU nations. Gibraltar and the Canary Islands are not considered to be a part of the EU, though.
Importing from other European and Mediterranean countries
You may bring the following into the UK if you are traveling from one of the following other European or Mediterranean nations not mentioned above:
Seeds
Five retail-packaged packets of “limited seeds,” maximum (not all seeds are restricted; and the importation into the UK of potato seeds is prohibited). You must get a phytosanitary certificate or a license if you plan to carry more than 5 packets back to the UK.
The national plant protection service of the nation where the commodities are to be exported issues phytosanitary certificates. The Forestry Commission or the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is responsible for issuing licenses.
Other plants and tree seedlings with or without soil
Up to 5 plants may be imported into the UK. Like with seeds, a phytosanitary certificate or a license must be obtained if you intend to import more than 5 plants into the UK.
Bulbs, corms, tubers and rhizomes
You are permitted to bring into the UK up to 2kg of bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes (but not potatoes). More than 2 kg of bulbs, corms, tubers, and rhizomes cannot be brought into the UK without a phytosanitary certificate or a license, which must be obtained.
To which countries do these restrictions apply?
These prohibitions apply to imports from the following nations: Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canary Islands, Ceuta, Cyprus (the area not effectively controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus), Egypt, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamrahiriya, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Melilla, Moldovia (Republic of), Morocco, Norway, part of Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Syrian
Travelling from other non-EU countries
You are only permitted to carry into the UK up to 5 retail packets of “restricted seeds” if you are traveling from one of the nations not listed above (not all seeds are restricted and the importation into the UK of potato seeds is prohibited).
Without a phytosanitary certificate, you are not permitted to import any bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes, seeds of Castanea (sweet chestnut) and Fraxinus (ash) for planting, or citrus or vine plants.
Declaring items at Customs
Smuggling prohibited or restricted goods is strictly prohibited and is punishable by a range of harsh fines, including the possibility of imprisonment. You must declare any plant items you are importing into the UK from a non-EU nation when you pass through customs. You could face legal action if you don’t declare them.
Endangered plants
Any plants or plant parts (including seeds) that are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species may not be imported into the UK without a permission. Odonates and cactus are examples of endangered species.
You should ask DEFRA for clarification if you have any remaining questions about what you can and cannot bring into the UK.