Do I need phytosanitary certificates to sell roasted coffee?
Short answer:
No – if you’re selling roasted coffee, phytosanitary certificates are not required in the UK or any major European market.
🔍 What are phytosanitary certificates for?
They’re only required when importing unprocessed agricultural goods like green coffee beans from outside a customs union (e.g. importing into the EU or UK from producing countries). These certificates prove that the goods are free from pests and diseases.
Once coffee is roasted, it is no longer subject to plant health regulations, and those certificates no longer apply.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Phytosanitary certs are required for green coffee imports.
- Not required when selling roasted coffee.
- You must register as a food business and follow basic hygiene/labelling laws.
🇪🇺 European Union (EU-wide rules)
- Same as the UK: phytosanitary certs apply to green, not roasted coffee.
- No need to pass on these documents when selling roasted coffee domestically or across borders.
- Must comply with Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 on food labelling and hygiene laws (which most roasters already follow).
🇩🇪 Germany
- No requirement for phytosanitary certificates for roasted coffee.
- Must follow Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch (LFGB) standards for food safety.
- Roasted coffee must be labelled clearly with roast date, best before, etc.
🇫🇷 France
- No phytosanitary requirement for roasted coffee sales.
- You must register your activity and comply with local food hygiene controls (DGAE, DGCCRF).
- Labelling must be in French and include traceability info.
🇮🇹 Italy
- Roasted coffee is treated as a food product – no need for phytosanitary certs.
- Businesses must register with the local ASL (health authority) and apply traceability and hygiene rules.
🇪🇸 Spain
- No need for plant health documents on roasted coffee.
- Food registration is with AESAN; labelling and hygiene compliance required for roasting businesses.
🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇸🇪 Sweden, etc.
- All follow EU law – no phytosanitary certificates needed for roasted coffee.
- Businesses need to be registered as food producers and comply with HACCP-based hygiene rules.
Summary Table
Country | Phytosanitary Cert Needed (Roasted) | Register as Food Biz | Labelling Rules Apply |
UK | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Germany | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
France | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Italy | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Spain | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Netherlands | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Sweden | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
✅ You do need to:
- Register your roasting business with the local food authority.
- Follow local food safety and traceability rules.
- Label products properly (best before, allergens, weight, etc.).
- Keep traceable records of your green coffee (lot numbers, origin, supplier invoices).
Let me know if you’d like this turned into an infographic or if you’d like a printable/downloadable PDF guide for your customers. Could be a helpful resource for people asking the same question!