Well maybe that's what is supposed to happen, but is absolutely not
what has happened, as recently as the last three months.

Has anyone ever been offered even the opportunity to obtain
appropriate documents? I know of plants destroyed because of a
simple typo the genus on the contents list, and "Nothing could be
done".

I even know of shipments that were supposedly returned but then all
paperwork pertaining to the return was 'lost' along with the plants.

It is hardly a system that inspires confidence.

T> So what really happens?> When the plants are presented or
discovered at the ports of entry in > the USA. Certain documents are
necessary to allow those plants to > enter. As mentioned the Phyto
is the most important document. For rare > plants, a CITES document.
Because the US is currently busy funding a > freedom operation to
the folks in the middle east, government > resources are limited and
now importers myst pay a small fee for an > CITES import permit $70
which is every two years (don't be too > concerned- because in the
very near future, the price will triple to > about $350 for all
import permits- Thanks be to George).> If you don't have the
documents- the government has to follow some > specific guidelines
to process the plant material.> 1. the importer is provided 21 days
to obtain the necessary documents > from the exporting country. The
plants sit in a not so nice place > (usually depending of the plant
inspection station it's as good as > they have) at least
it's not anything like where the plants were > growing prior to
being transported to the USA.> After this period of time, the
importer should be contacted to verify > that they have produced the
documents or the plants will be sent to > the country of export or
to a rescue center.> Usually 15 days is the grace period for this.>
If the importer fails to obtain the documents. USA will contact the

Wildlife > who looks art the address of the importer and follows a
list of > available rescue centers. They try to make the the rescue
center NOT > the same as the address or State of the importer. Too
many folks at > botanical gardens pulled fast ones and eventually
the government > figured it out.> Then, now almost 60 days after the
initial import into the USA, the > plants are off to a
rescue center. They arrive often very tired and in > bad shape.
Definitely not happy plants.>
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