On Mar 23, 2004, at 2:17 PM, Claude Sweet wrote: > Can anyone advise if a USDA importation permit is required for green > plants, such as clivia, or for dormant bulbs obtained from South > Africa? > > I understand a Phytosanitary Certificate is required. > > Claude Sweet > San Diego, CA > USA > 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