phytocertificate test results

I've traded with Australia and South-America too; and haven't had any problems either. I have received seeds from the Czech Rep.; but never mailed any in.

The Australian Import Conditions Database: http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon/asp/ex_querycontent.asp

Most seeds are allowed in; but mixed seeds are not.

These are some of the seeds that are prohibited:

I've traded with both australians and new zealanders with no problems. The australian trader said to make sure I put both the latin and the common name on the seed envelopes. Nothing was confiscated and their seeds made it to me with no trouble (and I'm one of the unlucky ones who had seed confiscated by the US Department of Agriculture!).

>Looks like you've got no excuse now, to forbid us UK yokels - joining in your next legume round robin!

Brook

Shome mistake, surely?

John

I wonder what's going on. This is the second time this has happened to me, in this thread.

What I said, basically, was that I would still be concerned that a package as large as the beans RR might still cause whistles to blow, flags to wave, and seed-sniffing dogs to go on a rampage.

So, instead, I will duplicate the package I start in the RR, and send it to you. You can then insert it into the RR you're doing through the Village Guild. Put my name last on the list, and we'll see if it every gets back to me.

Brook thanks for starting this thread. i have been sending seeds to India, Canada and England with no problem either way, using the postal certificate attached to the envelope.

i did received seeds from Brazil, Chile, and China. the only problem was it took too long to get here. seeds are in good shape in regular envelope padded with paper towel and cardboard ... making the envelope look a regular greeting card. i am happy, so is the person i trade with.

It is really a learning experience to read through the thread. :)

Evert, the conditions in the EU Countries (as far as I know of) is, that any Country in the EU can receive most kinds of seeds and plant materials from another EU Country. Germany can receive from another EU Country, but (probably not from Countries outside EU. Switzerland has a very large restricted list even when the packet is send from another EU Country. I think all Eu Countries, except Switzerland can receive seed/plant materials fro any Scandinavian Country. Denmark can receive most any kind of seeds/ cuttings/ plants, as long as these is not from India or Colombia (even though I would break my right arm for samples of Colombian Brugmansia seeds, which I would of course carantain myself here till I know, that they are safe of desease). Denmark in turn can mail to any EU Country, except the Switzerland.

It may be a bit confusing to read this info. *LOL* I read this thread three times now and it helped me understand the conditions, that I am sending under and which Countries has which conditions. :)

I will put the thred to my watch list.

Thanks :)

Christina, in relation to your first post in this thread about gardeners responsibillity I will ad, that I take my responsibillity very seriously. I thought also that was common Danish way to deal with plant health precutions, but a few weeks ago I I gave a big Brugmansia to one of the sons of our local garden center and they asked me, why I had put it out in the front and away from the plants and not in their sales GH? I advised them not to take anything new directly in their house, not even coming from me, but grow for a while in order not to transmit any disease to their other plant stock. One of the daughters then told, that it was custom, that unsatisfied customers brought all kinds of diseased plants in the GH to the desk to complaint. I must confess, that this attitued scared me a bit.

Yes, we don't need a customs label when sending things from EU country to another EU country. I think it's great. And euro especially :D

Just an update.

First: Dimitri had asked that I germinate the seeds he sent, to see if there was anything that effected them, like irridation. I tried it with his mung bean seed and got 100% germination.

Second: My correspondent in China has been heard from (thanks, Jianhua). Seeds took 7 days to get here, and arrived uninspected.

Does anyone trade with gardeners in the Pacific Rim? I'd really like to see that part of the world tested further. And Africa, too.

Based on my experiences with this test, however, I would say that Europe and Latin America are generally safe.

UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL SEED TRADING:

I have successfully received seeds from Australia, Brazil, and yesterday, I received seeds from Evert in Finland.

Who else has been "testing" the international waters? I'd like to hear from you. Apparently, people in Europe are still hesitant concerning sending seeds into the U.S. I hope after reading this thread that their fears will be put to rest.

I have received seeds from Mandy Sayer in Switzerland.

I don't know whether she has received mine yet.

I live in California, and there are definetly rules, but I am not sure each parcel is checked.

Evelyn

Pssst...

I have successfully mailed several packages of seeds into the US in recent weeks, and all were received without mishap.

Earlier this year, I also checked with my correspondents (following several Spring mailings) whether my seeds had suffered irradiation at US post offices en route.

Said deponents reported "No". My seeds had germinated okay.

So let's relax - a little - pro tem.

John

Brook,
Wonder if you have gotten the envelope
which i sent to you as a test a month ago?

I sent seeds to Jianhua and they made it thru, I sent seeds to Chile and they were sent back to me by Chilean customs.

We had a Dept of Argriculture inspector speak at our Master Gardener meeting last night.
He talked about how they inspect for illegal foods and plant materials being brought into this country. It was very interesting. Detroit is a Northwest airlines hub and we get aproximately 20 flights a day from China and other Pacific rim countries. It's really amazing what people try to sneak into this country. It's also amazing the potential pests that they catch, fruit flies, beetles etc.

During the Q&A I asked him about the phytocertificate issue and xraying of packets and envolpes containing seeds.
His answer was that the postal service is in such a ecomnic crunch and so short of people that he really doesn't see how they can follow up on this issue.
He did ask us as experienced gardeners to please inspect the seeds we receive for insects and or eggs of same and if we did detect them to burn the seeds right away. Its better to destroy a few seeds than to unleash a new insect into our country.

Oh you guys are a bunch of gardening mavericks--I love it!

"Callalilly"-Your comment..."I sent seeds to Chile and they were sent back to me by Chilean customs", was very interesting. May I ask if this was the first time sending seeds to this country and what type of seeds were you sending? (I know, Brugmansias-silly me:~)

Chile, like other foreign countries may have a list of seeds that are NOT allowed in for agricultural reasons. Of course, there is the "other reason" (drug smuggling) in S. America, but you were sending seeds INTO Chile, not SENDING THEM OUT of Chile~!!! It would be very helpful when trading internationally, to know which seeds can't be sent to certain countries. Most likely, you can obtain this information from the web or from the person you are trading with. Anyone have a good website and link that provides information on this topic???

Thanks SO MUCH "Paulgrow" for asking the very crucial and important question that is on every U.S. gardeners' minds..."phytocertificate issue and xraying of packets and envolpes containing seeds". His answer was certainly re-assuring, in his hope that every home gardener will be responsible and act accordingly. I'm sure that hearing this answer from a U.S. Agricultural official not only helped to alleviate fears that we can trade & receive seeds outside the U.S., but to ALWAYS be alert for potential insects coming into the States.

What an excellent topic & speaker you had at your Master Gardener's series of classes. I commend your Master Gardener's class & topic coordinator!!! I hope that more botanical associations & meetings will have speakers addressing these vital issues!

I sent some seeds to Chile last year and received some back in trade both packets went through with no trouble.
Last month I traded with a member in Brazil again no problems either way.So I'm not sure what's going on. I clearly mark my enevolpes "seeds enclosed".

Shirley, yes do have some interesting speakers at out MG meetings. I was the program person for 3 years; I ran out of ideas so I turned it over to the person that has it now.
She has done a fine job this year in scheduling speakers for our monthly speakers.