I wish I could, Harold (and Leo), but this is a government bureaucracy we're dealing with, so perhaps I've been rash in asserting that the permits referred to in the document are the standard 5-year PPQ-597 forms. That was my first and second reading but the document does contain some passages that raise some questions in my mind as to what exactly is being proposed. Under the section entitled "Permits", the document states that applicants for the permit would submit the same information (including "expected date of arrival") as do applicants for the standard 5-year PPQ-597 permit, and that small shipments of seeds would be added to the ranks of "restricted articles" that require such a permit. This implies that the permit issued would be a standard 5-year permit. Soon thereafter, though, comes this sentence: "As with permits for other plant material that is imported into the United States, the permit for the small lots of seed would be sent to the importer along with written instructions, a copy of the import requirements, and a standard green and yellow shipping label." This hints that the permit might not be the 597 permit and that it would be good for only one shipment. On the other hand, it could merely be fuzzy writing. It's happened before. It's difficult at this point to respond to this proposed rule, because what's being proposed is not entirely clear. If the gist of the change is to add small shipments of seeds to the list of restricted articles that require a 597 permit, while exempting such shipments from the phyto requirement, then bully for it. I just I were absolutely certain that's what's being said. Time to ask for an official interpretation, I guess. Russell At 01:51 PM 5/4/2004 -0700, you wrote: >As I read the rules Russell, you would have to apply for a new permit for >each consignment. This is not at all like my current plant import permit >that is good for 5 years. Please tell me that I am wrong. >Harold Russell Stafford Odyssey Bulbs 8984 Meadow Lane, Berrien Springs, Michigan 49103 269-471-4642 http://www.odysseybulbs.com/