Flowers & Plants air freight from Canada to Germany

Why ship flowers & plants by air freight?

Cut flowers and plants have a shelf life of only a few days. Air freight is not just an option — it’s the only option. Roses picked in Kenya on Monday need to be at the auction in Aalsmeer by Wednesday. This is only possible through air freight with a controlled cold chain.

The Netherlands is the world’s largest trading nation in cut flowers, and Schiphol is the epicenter. Aircargo.nl has years of experience with the specific demands of flower transport: speed, cooling, phytosanitary documentation, and direct delivery to the auction.

Typical flower transport routes

• Kenya (roses, lilies) → Schiphol: several times daily
• Ecuador & Colombia (roses, chrysanthemums) → Schiphol via Miami or direct
• Ethiopia → Schiphol: growing cut flower sector
• Export Dutch flowers → USA, Japan, Russia, China

Exporting to Canada

Canada is one of the Netherlands’ main trading partners outside the EU — under the CETA trade agreement, virtually all Dutch goods benefit from preferential or zero-tariff import rates. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Toronto (YYZ) via Air Canada Cargo and KLM Cargo, and frequent connections to Montreal (YUL) and Vancouver (YVR). Cargo-to-cargo transit usually takes 8–12 hours.

Customs & Regulations

The Canadian customs agency (CBSA) operates with the CARM system (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management). Importers need a Business Number and a CARM Client Portal account. For most shipments, a commercial invoice, packing list, and—when applying CETA rates—a statement of origin or preparer’s declaration are sufficient. Health Canada and CFIA registration requirements apply for food products, medical devices, and cosmetics.

Practical Tips

• Always include “CETA Statement of Origin” on your invoice for preferential import — this can reduce tariffs by 100%
• Account for provincial sales tax differences (GST/HST/PST) when pricing
• Both English and French labeling may be required for consumer products in Quebec

Aircargo.nl works with dedicated agents in Toronto and Montreal and manages the entire documentation chain—including CETA certification—for optimal transit.

Importing from Germany

Air freight imports from Germany are relatively rare — most goods travel by road or rail. When air freight is preferred, it typically involves urgent machine parts, medical equipment, or time-sensitive industrial components. As an EU country, customs clearance is not required and shipments clear quickly.

Aircargo.nl also handles reverse logistics from Germany: returns, repairs, or returned goods that need to be quickly sent back to origin or to another destination.

Canada as a Crosstrade Destination

Schiphol serves as a key European hub for crosstrades to Canada. Many shipments from Asia or the Middle East are routed through AMS to YYZ or YVR due to excellent cargo connectivity and predictable customs procedures. Air Canada Cargo and KLM Cargo offer frequent connections.

Aircargo.nl has agent partnerships in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver and can coordinate full crosstrade routes—including CARM registration and Canadian customs clearance—without the shipment having to physically touch Dutch soil.

Key considerations for flower transport

Cold chain

Flowers must be kept at 2–8°C throughout transport. Any break in temperature accelerates aging and reduces shelf life for the end buyer. Aircargo.nl only works with certified cold-chain handlers at Schiphol.

Phytosanitary requirements

Imports of plants and cut flowers from outside the EU require a phytosanitary certificate. This certificate is issued by the plant health authority of the exporting country and confirms the shipment is free of pests. Aircargo.nl routinely verifies and processes all phytosanitary documents.

CITES

Certain orchids and exotic plants fall under CITES protection and require a CITES permit. Always contact us if you’re unsure about the CITES status of your products.