Invasive plants as contaminants of bonsai plants from China
Inspection of plants for planting is an important phytosanitary measure to mitigate the risk of pests moving in trade. In 2025, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), in collaboration with Naktuinbouw (Netherlands Horticultural Association), inspected twenty Dutch companies who import plants with growing media for the introduction of invasive alien species. The inspections were to specifically look for ants, flatworms, and regulated invasive plants on the (EU) Union list (Regulation 1143/2014). During the inspections of pseudo-bonsai plants from China, four regulated plant species from the (EU) Union list were found as contaminants (Table 1). As follow-up measures, pots containing perennial EU regulated species must be destroyed by the importer, under the supervision of the NVWA or an inspector from Naktuinbouw. Pots contaminated with annual regulated species must be cleaned by the importer and may not be sold until the NVWA has determined they are free from the pest six weeks later.
Table 1. Four invasive plants from the (EU) Union List found as contaminants of bonsai plants from China
Species | Family | Plant type | EPPO Listing |
Alternanthera philoxeroides | Amaranthaceae | Aquatic | A2 List |
Broussonetia papyrifera | Moraceae | Tree | L IAP |
Humulus scandens | Cannabaceae | Vine | A2 List |
Lygodium japonicum | Schizaeaceae | Vine | A1 List |
* where L IAP = List of Invasive Alien Plants
Sources
NVWA (2025) Alligatorkruid aangetroffen in Phoenixpalmen https://www.nvwa.nl/nieuws-en-media/nieuws/2025/11/04/alligatorkruid-aangetroffen-in-phoenixpalmen