This extended information helps to explain WHY it's complicated. Some of it rests on prior legislation. But that could be amended and simplified... given a different environment. . ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robin Carrier" <robin@no1bird.com> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2011 7:11 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Importing Small Lots of Seed - Thanks > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "William Aley" <aley_wd@me.com> > To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> > Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2011 6:27 PM > Subject: Re: [pbs] Importing Small Lots of Seed - Thanks > > >> Thanks Robin, >> In all honesty we do realize that the import system is not reflective of >> the modern processes. That being said we can not petition congress for >> change. We can amend the CFRs, and that is a very long process. The US >> system is great for transparency but can get bogged down with the need >> to appease as much of the population as possible. Public disclosure, >> forums & feedback help to keep us on track but this takes time and there >> is the ever looming problem that government needs to be smaller. Thus >> international agreements and making our regulations comparable to other >> countries becomes a slower process. >> >> For the plants for planting universe there are changes in the works. >> Some groups want to totally ban plant imports for reasons of fear to >> environmental pollution of the N. American biomes. >> http://www.invasive.org/gist/learnmore.html Where others think the >> government is too restrictive and all imports should be at the >> discretion of the individual. We try to find a balance. >> As I mentioned before the Hatch Act prohibits government employees from >> advocating change to elected official. But groups like this when >> organized can contact the Secretary of Agriculture directly with >> requests, recommendations and (most often) complaints. We do listen and >> try to find a balance and we try to help as much as we can within the >> limits of the CFR. >> >> For more information go to the PPQ website to be included in the >> stakeholder registry >> https://web01.aphis.usda.gov/PPQStakeWeb2.nsf >> there are a couple of presentations that may be useful too. >> UNITED STATES of AMERICA (716Kb) - Regulations Affecting Seed ... >> >> New information is added to the website from the NAPPRA rule >> (http://aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/… >> ) to Federal Orders that are the precursor to changing the CFR: >> http://aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/… >> >> I do hope this helps. >> Bill >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> pbs mailing list >> pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >> http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ >> > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/