Can I take or bring plants or flowers with me when I am traveling?
This a common question and a short answer, legally no.
Plant materials including (but are not limited to), all live or dead plant parts: leaves, seeds, flowers, roots/ tubers/ bulbs, bark as well as "Naturally occurring soils" are prohibited under international convention from being transferred between one country and another. In certain parts of the world (the USA and Australia for example) this is extended to include the movement of materials between different states and is strictly enforced.
This regulation is usually enforced by the relevant Agricultural Authority of the concerned countries, in the case of the UAE, it is enforced by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) at a Federal level.
Plant materials can be imported (this includes in your luggage), if they are accompanied by a relevant Phytosanitary Certificate, issued from the country the consignment originated in, stating that it complies with the Import Permit of the country into which it is being imported.
For example, I want to import plants from Thailand. I would have to approach MOCCAE and apply for an Import Permit, specifying the plants and their origin and quantity. MOCCAE would then issue an Import Permit to the Thai authorities specifying the terms and conditions under which the shipment may be imported. Before having the plants shipped to me I provide the supplier with this document; the supplier then approaches the Thai Agricultural Authorities and checks the conditions of the permit can be met. If the conditions are 100% in compliance then they issue a Phytosanitary Certificate to me which has to accompany the plants. On arrival, this is presented together with the plants for inspection by the customs division of MOCCAE. The customs inspectors inspect the shipment for insect pests, and fungi and check the conditions of compliance. Only then, after this process is complete and in compliance will the consignment be released to me. If there are any signs of pests, viruses, fungi, or natural soils, the plants are confiscated and destroyed.
This process is further complicated if the plant materials are endangered in their native country, or appear on the CITES list (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).
As you can see the legal process is long, complicated, and costs money as well at every step of the process.
This is also far removed from simply packing a few Basil cuttings in your luggage in damp paper and bringing them through customs. On entry into the country, your luggage is subject to inspection, in most cases, items like this may be overlooked as long as they are easily identifiable and don't resemble any controlled substances or plants. However, if you are caught with plant materials in your luggage you will probably receive a warning and possibly a fine, with the items being confiscated and destroyed.
Why are these regulations in place?
Phytosanitary regulations cover not only plant materials and soils, but also animals, fish, and birds.
In most countries, agriculture and farming are key economic components of the countries' GDP, anything that may threaten this industry are of key concern, this includes introduced pests and diseases that may damage or even destroy this industry. In a horticultural context, invasive plant types would also be included.
One good example of this was the Potato Famine in Ireland in the mid-1850s. The fungal pathogen was introduced from South America, and it then decimated the entire staple crop of the country resulting in almost 1 million deaths from starvation, resulting in civil unrest, and a mass exodus from the country by a million immigrants.
Unfortunately, there are tens if not hundreds of examples where introduced pests, diseases, or invasive plants or animals have drastically changed the landscape or history of our world - mostly for the worse.
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