United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit 133 4700 River Road Riverdale, Maryland 20737

ENTRY STATUS OF SEEDS FOR PLANTING Contents Plants, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and roots for propagation or growing. a. Introduction. b. Types of plant import documents, how to apply, and the costs. c. How to renew, amend or revise your permit. d. What PPQ considers when reviewing your application for a permit or an amended permit. e. Your responsibilities when you receive your permit, and TIPS to SPEED YOUR CLEARANCE. f. USDA responsibilities when your shipment is received. g. Frequently asked questions (FAQs)about importing plants and plant materials for propagation. a. INTRODUCTION -- IMPORTING PLANT MATERIALS FOR PROPAGATION IN THE UNITED STATES THE BENEFITS OF IMPORTING PLANT MATERIALS Importing plant materials from foreign countries into the U.S. has many benefits. We gain: improved varieties with desirable traits, such as disease resistance, improved flavor, cold tolerance, heavier yield or improved size and color of blooms; new industrial and pharmacological chemicals; fresh produce, cut flowers and herbs year round, improved diets and steady employment in processing, marketing, and transportation companies. THE RISKS OF IMPORTING PLANT MATERIALS However, the import of some plant materials may allow dangerous plant pests into the U.S. These pests may be insects, nematodes, weeds, parasitic weeds, mites, snails, slugs, fungi, viruses, and other plant pathogens. Dangerous plant pests can: Reduce your yield of desirable plants in croplands, nurseries, greenhouses, orchards, and forests, and other natural environments. Increase your use of pesticides, and your costs to farm, ranch, or produce in groves and nurseries. Increase your costs to market and transport your goods. Introduce pesticide resistance into existing pest populations, producing pests immune to commercial pesticides. Restrict the U.S. and international markets for your products. Increase costs to you, the buyer of seeds, plants, drugs, livestock, food, plastics, and fiber. Reduce the trust of buyers of your products. Buyers may wonder; are these plant products or animals free of pests? Am I buying a pesticide-resistant insect like sweet potato whitefly? Am I buying a nasty weed problem like tropical soda apple? History has many examples of the high costs of introduced pests to humanity. The potato famine in Ireland from 1845-1847 is probably the most famous. It was caused by the introduction of a disease of potato. ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT PLANT MATERIALS In addition to the high costs of new plant pests, plant breeders and pharmacologists are concerned about the loss of plant genetic materials by extinction. Endangered plant species such as cactus, cycads, various trees, and orchids are regulated to prevent the loss of their genetic diversity by the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the World Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Imports of genetically altered plant materials are regulated by PPQ to assure that undesirable genetic tendencies don't cross breed into weeds and non target plants. The U.S. federal government also regulates the amount of pesticide on imported produce and other human health- related disease carriers such as mosquitoes. THE FEDERAL ROLE IN PROTECTING U.S. AGRICULTURE All imported plant materials are regulated or prohibited to protect U.S. agriculture. Laws that protect U.S. Agriculture from foreign pests were enacted in the early 1900s. These laws and subsequent regulations allow PPQ to grant permits to allow plant importation. Permits expedite trade and provide information to help prevent invasions of plant pests. The best way to determine whether your plant material is allowed, or how to import your plant materials, is to request and obtain a permit. Most USDA PPQ permits are free. Your permit may allow entry if plant materials are: Inspected by PPQ officers and found pest-free. Treated. Accompanied by specialized certificates, and/or permits with specialized restrictions, for research, testing or other activities. Processed to destroy the pest risk. Grown and handled to prevent pest escape. YOUR ROLE IN PROTECTING U.S. AGRICULTURE When you obtain a permit, you are taking one step in protecting the food and fiber resources of this country. You and your employees will know what is prohibited, what may be allowed, and what conditions diminish pest risk. Permits also speed the entry of your products and help to keep your costs competitive, because you will know; The specific conditions of entry and when you must pay treatment costs. What documents must accompany the shipment to avoid delay or return costs for the shipment. Which states require additional information or restrictions on the imported plants. The names of the ports in the U.S.A. that can process your import. WITH PERMITS, YOU NORMALLY CLEAR AGRICULTURE IN 3 HOURS OR LESS* Most shipments with proper permits and certificates, usually take 3 hours or less to clear USDA inspection points. However shipments that lack required permits or certificates are often returned to origin, destroyed, or seriously delayed and the plant material dies or rots. This also applies to shipments of 12 or fewer plants. Your friends may suggest you try shipments of small volumes without permits. However, if your small shipment requires a CITES permit or certificate, or contains restricted materials, you may lose valuable plant materials during the wait for proper certificates and/or permits. The loss of valuable plant material persuades most importers to get their permits before shipping. Permits benefit you, whether you are the importer, the seller, or the buyer. When you buy seeds, plants, produce, and research plant materials and pharmaceutical materials in the U.S., check to insure your supplier has appropriate permits. A lack of permits or abuse of permits may allow pest infested materials to move to your nursery, farm, market, or research institution. An infestation may be impossible for you as a buyer to spot, some examples; fungal spores, viral infestations, or even weed seeds in the intestines of cattle. Although proper permits don't guarantee freedom from plant pests, permits give strong evidence you are buying from a reputable establishment. Carefully review the seller's permits and documents to help insure you do not buy a long term, expensive problem. * On average most shipments are cleared in 3 hours or less. However some inspection stations have seasonal workloads that may impact your clearance time. Call the inspection station prior to shipment to obtain clearance times. b. TYPES OF PLANT IMPORT DOCUMENTS, HOW TO APPLY, THE COSTS OF PERMITS AND ENTRY DOCUMENTS Permits and certificates are the two categories of documents used to import plant materials into The U.S.A.. You may need up to three different documents depending on your import. PERMITS for Plant Materials are issued by two agencies and the foreign country of origin. Those issued by PPQ are granted to residents of the U.S.A. Residents are held responsible for following the directions in the permit(s). Your permit varies depending on the materials you import. Permits issued by the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Quarantine: General permit-- for commercial CITES material. Usually valid for two years. Postentry permit-- for plant material that must be examined during a growing season in the U.S. Usually valid for 5 years. Departmental permit- for extremely high risk material, requested by researchers in universities, and state and federal agencies. Length of validity depends on items. PPQ Importer Basic permit- for most other types of plant materials. Usually valid for 5 years. Permits issued by the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service: Import Permit - to import CITES Appendix I plant materials. Length of validity depends on country and items. Permits issued by foreign governments: CITES Export Permit -- for CITES Appendix I, II, and III plant material. Issued by foreign governments. Length of validity depends on country and items. CERTIFICATES or Phytosanitary Certificates are issued by the country in which the plant material was grown. A statement is sometimes added to the Phytosanitary Certificate of the country where the plants were grown. This is called certification. For example, CITES plant material may require certification. This may be a statement of artificial propagation placed on the Phytosanitary Certificate. Cost of the certification will vary depending on the country. Use Chart 1 and 2 below for guidance on the type of application(s) and the additional certifications you need.

CHART 1. Nature of your imports -- business or non- business.

If you are:	You must apply for this:	From:	The Cost
A commercial business importing endangered or threatened species (CITES)	General Permit, PPQ form 621	USDA,PPQ, Permit Unit (If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	$70
A commercial business NOT importing endangered or threatened species (CITES)	PPQ Importer Basic permit, PPQ Form 587	USDA,PPQ, Permit Unit. If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	No cost
A non-commercial operation	PPQ Importer Basic permit, PPQ Form 587	USDA,PPQ, Permit Unit. If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	No cost

Please continue to chart 2 for documents related to the types of plants you wish to import. You may need more than one type of document below.

CHART 2. The Types of Plant Materials You Wish to Import.

If you are importing:	You must apply for this:	From:	The Cost
Plants that require growth under postentry conditions	Postentry permit, form 597	USDA,PPQ, Permit Unit. If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	No cost
Plants that require certification under CITES (for example, a statement of artificial propagation)	Certification	Foreign country If on the Web, CLICK HERE for list of contacts in most foreign countries. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	can vary
Plant materials that are CITES Appendix I and collected in the wild	Import Permit	U.S.D.A., Fish and Wildlife. Call 703-358-2104.	$70
Plant materials that are CITES Appendix I,II and III	Export permit	Foreign country If on the Web, CLICK HERE for list of contacts in most foreign countries. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	can vary
Plant materials that are intended for research or prohibited.	Departmental permit ,PPQ form 597, and proof of adequate containment facilities	USDA,PPQ, Permit Unit. (If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. )	No cost

c. HOW TO RENEW, AMEND OR REVISE YOU PERMIT HOW TO RENEW YOUR PERMIT Two to three months before the expiration date, send the following: A copy of your current permit(s). A completed application for the appropriate type of permit you wish, with the original signature of the responsible party, who resides in the United States. If your original permit required a cost, the renewal will also require a fee. Send your check or money order with the renewal application and a copy of your permit to: USDA APHIS-PPQ Permit Unit Biological Assessment and Taxonomic Support 4700 River Road, Unit 136 Riverdale, Maryland 20737 Telephone Number: 301/734-8896 If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. HOW TO AMEND OR REVISE YOUR PERMIT You may wish to import different plant materials as they become available or as United States markets change. Or you may move locations to expand your greenhouse, nursery or business areas. These are examples of permits that should be amended or revised. If you move and hold a postentry permit, the new growing site must be approved by the State and Federal governments before a new permit can be is issued. This process will take 1-2 months longer than any other type of amendment or revision to your permit(s). For all amendments or revisions to your permit, send the following items: A copy of your current permit(s). A completed application for the appropriate type of permit you wish, with the original signature of the responsible party, who resides in the United States. Depending on the type of application(s) you complete, a fee may be required. If so, send a check or money order with the application and a copy of your permit to: USDA APHIS-PPQ Permit Unit Biological Assessment and Taxonomic Support 4700 River Road, Unit 136 Riverdale, Maryland 20737 If on the Web, CLICK HERE for application. If this is a paper document, see attachment XX. d. WHAT PPQ CONSIDERS WHEN REVIEWING YOUR APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT OR AMENDED PERMIT PPQ considers this information when reviewing applications for permits or amended permits: The biology and life cycle of the pest(s) of concern. The ecological zone or environment where the work will be performed, or plant material will be used; the concentration or availability of host plants in the receiving area. The season or time of year of the proposed importation; if that is an issue. The use of the imported material; research, propagation, food stuff, cut flowers, fiber, etc. In the case of research on foreign pests, PPQ prefers that work with undesirable pests be done in the pests' home country. Some reasons for this policy are: - To avoid accidental release in the United States. - State governments may object to the rearing of undesirable pests. Ability of the applicant to contain or safeguard the host and its potential pests, (if that is an issue.) For example. Do you have a containment facility certified for pests of these hosts? Is your company insuring proper safeguard temperatures, wrappings, etc., for imported fruits? State regulations on agricultural related commodities and state approval for particular import. History of permit and agricultural violations. Your PPQ permit will normally take 10-15 working days to prepare and mail. However, your application may take longer to approve if; The item you wish to import has never been imported before, The exporting country has new pests, Your application must be reviewed by federal and private scientists in the fields of entomology, weed science, or plant pathology to determine the risks to agriculture and the environment of the United States. The State in which you wish to import, objects because of its agricultural production and environmental protection. For example, Florida regulates many tropical aquatic plants that are of no concern to Northern States in the United States. e. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR PERMIT(S) AND TIPS TO SPEED CLEARANCE OF YOUR PLANT MATERIALS. You control most of the actions taken with your plant materials. PPQ and your State Department of Agriculture will not be with you as you prepare the plant materials for shipment. PPQ may only see a representative sample of your shipment(s)in the ports and airports. When you move your plants to their final destinations, the State Department of Agriculture may visit your business only once or twice a year. Therefore the opportunity for an undesirable pest to invade the United States may be greatly increased or decreased by you. To lower the risks of a pest invasion, carefully follow the guidelines or stipulations that you agreed to in your permit application and the additional instructions you received with your permit. If you fail to follow the permit directions, or worse yet, attempt to smuggle items, the chances of pest invasion dramatically increase. Once the pest is in, your product may become unmarketable, because of State, federal, and international embargos. Your reputation as a grower, researcher, plant hobbyist, or even community member may be damaged. Your sales and production will decline. Your costs and losses may increase due to increased pesticide use or pesticide resistance in the imported pest. People directly or indirectly linked to your hobby or business may be negatively affected. For example, your products may contaminate equipment used for harvest or transport and you may be charged or sued for decontamination costs. Other effects may be civil or criminal penalties, and withdrawal of your permit. For the sake of healthy agricultural markets and stable ecological systems worldwide, USDA PPQ depends on individuals with PPQ permits to display integrity, thoroughness, and great respect for plant protection actions. TIPS TO SPEED CLEARANCE OF YOUR PLANT MATERIALS The conditions below apply to all plant materials imported for propagation: Plants and plant materials must be identified by scientific name. Plants and plant materials must be imported free of soil. If plants are approved to be imported in special growing media, roots must be easily cleaned for examination. Seeds must be free of pulp. DO NOT use the following plant materials for packing your shipment: - Straw or hay - corn husks - charcoal - corn cobs - rice hulls - raw cotton - Leaves, twigs, plant litter, etc. - and other unprocessed, agricultural materials Most shipments should be packed in new, clean, vermiculite or peat moss. You may also use newspaper, paper, cardboard, and sphagnum moss. For more tips on shipping, CLICK HERE. Make sure shipments arrive at the port(s) listed on your permit. If they enter elsewhere, that port may not be prepared for handling your type of material. Other ports may take much more time to complete the work or in some locations, they may be unable to do the work because of lack of equipment. Then, you will have to ship your material in bond to another location. Your plants must be delivered to a Plant Inspection Station. Most large ports have several PPQ offices for marine and air cargo and passengers, but only one Plant Inspection Station. If the agent delivers to the wrong office, clearance of your items will be delayed. Make sure your agent or broker delivers material rapidly to the proper PPQ location for clearance. If on the Web, CLICK HERE for a list of the addresses of plant inspection stations in the U.S. If this is a paper document see appendix ______. Make sure Express carriers (Federal Express, DHL, etc.) list you as the consignee on the Air Way Bill(AWB). If the inspection station address is on the AWB, you may have to pay shipping expenses again from the plant inspection station at the U.S. port of entry to your destination in the U.S. Make sure the Express carriers understand this package must clear Agriculture as well as Customs. f. USDA APHIS PPQ RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN YOUR SHIPMENT IS RECEIVED When your shipment is received, it is handled as quickly and carefully as possible, and sent on its way. PPQ works hard to provide rapid, high quality, inspection and treatment services that facilitate imports and exports and keep agricultural pests out of the United States. The actions taken on your plant material depend on the types of plants, the country they were grown in, the destination in the United States, and the condition of the material. Many pests are extremely small internal feeders so your plant material may be cut open during inspection. If you are present when pests are found, PPQ will show them to you, your broker, or your representative, after taking proper precautions(with small, fragile insects or highly contagious pests). PPQ employees will also explain the actions that must be taken with your shipment. g. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) ABOUT IMPORTING PLANTS AND PLANT MATERIALS FOR GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES Question 1: Should I get a permit before ordering, collecting or scouting for my plants? Answer: Yes. Although a permit is not required for some types of materials, we highly recommend that you get a permit before you acquire or order plant material. Without a permit, you may order plant items that are prohibited, need special paperwork, and/or must be grown in a facility approved by the State and Federal Agricultural Agencies. When these arrive, you may pay for the items, and pay for the transportation to the United States, only to have the items destroyed or shipped back to the foreign seller. To avoid loss of time and money to you, your business and your research, please obtain your permit(s) and paperwork and review guidelines and requirements before importing your plant materials. Question 2: Once I request a permit and send in all forms, how soon can I expect my permit? Answer: Once received, most PPQ permits(s) are mailed with in 10-15 working days. However, if your request must be approved by foreign countries, the State Department of Agriculture or United States Fish and Wildlife Service (for endangered/threatened species), approval can take longer. For an estimate of time, call the responsible parties. Question 3: Can I expedite my permit? Answer: The speed of permitting is greatly improved when all of the information on your application is correct, legibly written, or typed, and your application is signed and dated. Because of delayed service to other customers, we expedite permits only in rare circumstances on a case by case basis. Question 4: Can I get a letter stating no permit is required? Answer: Yes. First, we review your completed application. Then, if your plant materials do not require a permit, this letter is issued. Keep the original letter and put copies with your plant materials. Question 5: Can I bring in twelve plants without a permit? Answer: Yes and no. The laws and regulations allow you to appear at ports of entry with 12 plants or less and no permit. However the chances these plants will enter the US will be poor unless, you know all of the following: The scientific names (families, genera, and species) of your plant materials. The families, genera, and species of your plants, plant materials, or seeds are not endangered or threatened in the world. The genera and species are not designated as noxious weeds by federal and/or state laws. The genera and species don't require postentry permits and approval from your State government. Your plants are not prohibited under a number of quarantines pertaining to agricultural hosts and pests. Your plants meet size and age import restrictions; this means they are small enough and young enough for PPQ to inspect and treat. Your plants are completely free of undesirable insects, plant diseases, weed seeds, nematodes, acari, mollusca and other plant pests. As you can see, this knowledge is extensive. However, most of this information is free, when you apply for a PPQ permit. Unfortunately many rare, and expensive plants are abandoned, destroyed or die because importers ship before determining requirements. Please prevent the loss of rare and exotic plant materials by informing yourself of the requirements and requesting your permit 2-3 months prior to shipping. Question 6: When travelers carry shipments of 12 plants or less, are these plants checked in the baggage inspection areas? Answer: Many international clearance areas lack equipment for proper examination of plant materials for small pests. Inspections in the baggage area are done at the inspector's discretion. If your inspector feels conditions prevent a proper inspection, your plant materials will be shipped to the local inspection station. You will save time by arranging for plants to go to the inspection station first, rather than arranging for the shipment to go from the baggage area later. Question 7: How should I use the green and yellow tags? Answer: If you plan to send plant materials in the mail, you will receive green and yellow tags or labels. Place one label on each package you intend to mail by Air Mail or Parcel Post. The label lists the city(s) where the PPQ inspection station(s) is/are informed of this shipment. With this label, the U.S. Postal service can insure your materials go rapidly to this inspection station. Before you seal the box, check Question 11 and make sure all your documents are included, including an packing list of the names and number of plant materials, CITES documents, and copies of permits. Items shipped outside of the mail system do not need green and yellow labels but they do need the documents listed in Question 11 and a packing list. Question 8: I plan to use an express carrier (Federal Express, UPS, DHL, etc.)to send my plants. Do I need special labels? Answer: No. However, make sure express carriers list you as the consignee on the Air Way Bill(AWB). If the inspection station address is on the AWB, you may have to pay shipping expenses again (from the plant inspection station at the U.S. port of entry to your destination in the U.S.) Make sure the Express carriers understand this package must clear Agriculture, as well as Customs, and then be shipped express to you. Question 9: What happens if my shipments enter the United States at a port that is not on the permit? Answer: If your shipment goes to a city that is not on the permit, that shipment must go to the nearest inspection station. Sometimes the nearest inspection station is many miles away. For example, you planned to enter plants into Orlando, Florida, but the shipment went to Jacksonville, Florida. You may have to pay to place the shipment on a bonded carrier to the nearest PPQ inspection station in Orlando. For the best service, enter your shipments at the ports listed on your permits. This practice saves you time -- no calls are needed to transmit your permit. And it saves you money-- You won't have to hire bonded carriers to ship materials to another location. Question 10: Can a friend use my permit to import my plants? Answer: Your permit is issued to you. You are legally responsible for actions related to the plant material. Certification addressed to another party is not valid. If your shipment needs approval and payment for shipment, treatment, or abandonment; legal questions may arise as to who is truly responsible for your shipment. If you cannot personally attend to your import, or it is too large for express service or the mail, we recommend you employ a broker. Question 11: What types of documents should accompany my shipment, copies or originals? Answer: Use the chart below to determine whether an original or a copy must go with your shipment: If you have this: Send this with the shipment PPQ Importer Basic permit A copy. If you send repeat shipments within the year, no additional copy is necessary. CITES permit, issued by the country of origin The original MUST accompany the shipment. Plant materials in large, partial shipments must be mentioned in a previous original permit. Phytosanitary certificates from the country of origin The original. Plant materials in large, partial shipments must be mentioned in a previous original permit. General permit (issued by U.S.D.A.) A copy. If you send repeat shipments within the year, no additional copy is necessary. Question 12: Who needs copies of my PPQ Importer Basic permit? Answer: Your shipper, foreign grower and United States broker need copies of your permit. Send only copies to those that request or need them. USDA APHIS PPQ will send copies to the destination port of entry, and if necessary, the State Agriculture Department. Keep your original PPQ Importer Basic permit. Question 13: What is the cost of inspection? Answer: Inspections are free of charge during regular working hours (generally from Monday- Friday, 8 am -4:30 pm.) However the importer must supply the labor to repack and forward the shipment to its final destination. A broker, freight handler or other agent can complete these tasks for you. Question 14: How much time will my plants spend in agricultural inspection? Answer: Inspections may take as little as 1-3 hours, if; The plants have cleared U.S. Customs, Are delivered to the correct USDA location, Have the correct documents, Have been properly cleaned and packaged, And are free of pests. If pests or diseases are found, and the problem can be treated, this may take an additional 1-3 days depending on the location, size of shipment, and season. If the shipment lacks required U.S. documents, it may be delayed until documents are received, 2- 3 weeks or more. If foreign- issued documents are required and the material has been shipped, the foreign country often refuses to issue any documents, and materials can not enter the USA. (Some inspection stations have seasonal workload variations that may impact your shipment. Call in advance to determine precise inspection time.) In Summary: Before you ship, insure all required documents are present. Then your plants will spend the minimum time under USDA inspection. Question 15: Will someone contact me before my permit expires? Answer: In the future, you can track your permit expiration date on the Internet @ www.html, or you can refer to the date on your permit. For timely renewal, send your application two to three months before expiration to PPQ at the address below: USDA APHIS-PPQ Permit Unit Biological Assessment and Taxonomic Support 4700 River Road, Unit 136 Riverdale, Maryland 20737 Telephone Number: 301/734-8896