USDA import permit

On the webpage "Agriculture Permits for Nursery Stock (incl. seeds)"
<http://aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/…>
it says:
"Introduction:
USDA requires permits for the importation of admissible nursery stock,
plants, and roots not subject to postentry quarantine, and seeds of
trees and shrubs, and also seeds covered in Part 319.37-6 under the
authority of 7 CFR 319.37. In addition a Phytosanitary Certificate must
accompany all propagative material."

Based on the above paragraph plus the following 'page, almost all seeds
except for those of trees or shrubs, or those explicitly prohibited
(listed on the following 'page as well), or those of plants listed on
CITES, are allowed in *without* an import permit. Seeds of almost all
trees and shrubs are allowed in with an import permit. Currently all
seeds, with or without an import permit, require a phytosanitary issued
by the country from which they are sent to accompany them. When the new
rule is finally issued, small lots of all allowable seeds will be
allowed in without requiring a phytosanitary certificate.
"Entry Status of Seeds for Planting"
<http://aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/…>

Finally, almost all bulbs do not require an import permit, but do
require an accompanying phytosanitary certificate. See:
"Importation of Bulbs" (PDF file)
<http://199.132.50.50/Oxygen_FOD/FB_MD_PPQ.nsf
d259f66c6afbd45e852568a90027bcad/9a0b8bdbd1bd1352852568f2006a1729?
OpenDocument>

Lastly, a (U.S.) import permit is easy to apply for and costs nothing,
and lasts 5 years between renewals. So I think it is very useful to get
one anyway. Just fill in this form and send it in. (There used to be an
online page where you could apply for this permit, but I couldn't find
the 'page anymore.)
PPQ Form 587 - "Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant
Products"
<http://199.132.50.50/Oxygen_FOD/FB_MD_PPQ.nsf
d259f66c6afbd45e852568a90027bcad/b1155f1e8510bc5285256b88006ecbeb?
OpenDocument>

For non-prohibited live "green" plants (plants with leaves), both an
import permit number and an accompanying phytosanitary certificate are
required. The permit is easy to get but the phyto is where you run into
problems. You have to get an agric. agent of the sending country to
inspect your plant(s) and issue the certificate. Some countries charge
for this. Some charge a lot. In some countries you can have this done
at the airport if you're bringing the plant back with you. Otherwise,
you or the sender will have to go where the agent is for the inspection
or someone will have to get an agent to visit them. I've heard that in
some countries it's a big hassle. I've brought back stuff from Japan
and all I needed to do was call the airport ahead of time to let them
know I needed an inspection and when I would be there. It was free. The
bigger problem was at the U.S. end. If I had more than a handful of
plants or several different species, they would take them away to be
inspected later at a different facility, after which I had to go back
to the facility to retrieve them a few days later. So I had to be sure
there was plenty of moisture in the material packed around the roots to
last the plant for up to a week, especially if a weekend or holiday
intruded or they were especially busy. I also just learned that some
countries, such as Australia, want to charge you for an *export* permit
as well, even for one plant! (I think Australia charges for everything,
and they charge quite a lot too.)

--Lee Poulsen
Pasadena area, California, USDA Zone 9-10