Exporting Fresh Celery and Carrots from China to the EU: Rules and Documents
EU rules for fresh celery and carrots from China: phytosanitary certificates, pesticide limits, the general marketing standard and origin marking.
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Marketing Director
What plant health rules apply to celery and carrots from China?
Plant health rules for imports into the EU are set in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. The points below follow the consolidated text of 15 October 2026.
Phytosanitary certificate
Carrots (CN 0706 10 00) and leafy celery (CN 0709 40 00) from third countries other than Switzerland need a phytosanitary certificate (Annex XI, Part A). It is issued by the plant protection organisation of the exporting country.
Carrots: the 1% soil statement
For root and tubercle vegetables, including carrots, the certificate must carry an official statement that soil and growing medium do not exceed 1% of net weight (Annex VII, point 12).
Leafy celery: the leaf miner statement
For leafy celery, the certificate must carry an official statement that the country is free from Liriomyza sativae and Nemorimyza maculosa, or that the consignment was officially inspected immediately before export (Annex VII, point 28).
Are they on the list of increased checks?
The consolidated text of Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 of 30 June 2026 lists no celery or carrot entries for any country. This list is amended often, so check the current version before each season.
What pesticide residue limits apply?
EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) are set under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Where no specific MRL is set, a default of 0.01 mg/kg applies. Values for each substance and crop are in the EU Pesticides Database; this page does not copy them.
Which marketing standard applies?
Celery and carrots have no specific EU marketing standard, so the general marketing standard of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429 applies. It sets minimum requirements and a 10% tolerance, of which no more than 2% may be decay. Conformity with an applicable UNECE standard is also accepted (Article 2).
What must be marked on the package and invoice?
Packages must show the name and address of the packer and/or dispatcher and the full name of the country of origin. For products from outside the EU, the origin must be in any language understandable by consumers in the country of destination. Invoices must show the name and the country of origin of the products.
Which documents usually accompany a shipment?
The phytosanitary certificate and the invoice with the country of origin are covered above. Other documents are provided as agreed with the importer; see our export compliance page.
What do EU buyers often ask for beyond the law?
These are buyer requirements, not legal requirements. According to CBI, European retail buyers commonly require GLOBALG.A.P. certification. Certificates are product-specific, valid for one year and can be checked by GGN in the GLOBALG.A.P. Supply Chain Portal.
What can AzureRoute Produce provide?
AzureRoute Produce exports fresh celery and fresh carrots from Shandong, China. We prepare shipping documents to the requirements of the buyer’s market; the exact document list is confirmed with each buyer after the enquiry. See our export compliance page for how documents are agreed per order, and our sourcing partners for where we source.
Key takeaways
- Carrots and leafy celery need a phytosanitary certificate with the official statements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.
- Carrots: soil and growing medium at most 1% of net weight. Leafy celery: leaf miner statement.
- Residues must meet EU MRLs, with a 0.01 mg/kg default.
- The general marketing standard applies, and the country of origin must be on the package.
Frequently asked questions
Do fresh carrots and celery from China need a phytosanitary certificate for the EU?
Yes. Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, Annex XI Part A, lists fresh carrots under CN 0706 10 00 and leafy celery under CN 0709 40 00 from third countries other than Switzerland among the products that need a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country's plant protection organisation.
Is there a soil limit for carrots imported into the EU?
Yes. Carrots and other root and tubercle vegetables from third countries other than Switzerland need an official statement that the consignment or lot does not contain more than 1 percent by net weight of soil and growing medium, under Annex VII of Regulation (EU) 2019/2072.
What pesticide residue limits apply in the EU?
EU maximum residue levels are set under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Where no specific limit is set for a pesticide on a crop, a default of 0.01 mg/kg applies. Buyers and suppliers should check each substance in the EU Pesticides Database.
Which EU marketing standard applies to celery and carrots?
Neither has a specific EU marketing standard under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429, so the general marketing standard applies. It sets minimum quality requirements and a 10 percent tolerance, of which no more than 2 percent may be decay. Conformity with an applicable UNECE standard is also accepted.
In which language must the country of origin appear?
Under Regulation (EU) 2023/2429, packages must show the full name of the country of origin. For products from outside the EU, it must be in any language understandable by consumers in the country of destination. The packer or dispatcher name and address must also appear.
Official sources / For reference only
The links below are provided for reference only. Listing a source or portal here does not mean that any product or company is registered, approved or admissible in this market. Buyers must check the current requirements with the competent authorities themselves.
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072, consolidated text 15.10.2026 — EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the European Union, accessed
- Trade of plants and plant products from non-EU countries — European Commission, DG SANTE, accessed
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, consolidated text 30.06.2026 — EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the European Union, accessed
- EU legislation on maximum residue levels — European Commission, DG SANTE, accessed
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429, consolidated text 04.10.2025 — EUR-Lex / Publications Office of the European Union, accessed
- Buyer requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables — CBI (part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs), accessed Market information portal of a Dutch government agency, not an EU regulator.
Official portals
- TRACES (information page) — European Commission, DG SANTE TRACES NT is the Commission's online platform for certification of imports of plants and plant products into the EU.
- TRACES NT (platform login) — European Commission
- CBI market information — CBI (part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Market information portal of a Dutch government agency, not an EU regulator.
This page summarises official texts for orientation. It is not legal advice, and requirements change; confirm the current rules with your importer before each shipment.