Would Canada be considered as International

With my travelling in the USA and being so close to the Canadian border I would never consider being 'International' however, many may view this differently....

I was asked to think about doing an exchange..my first reaction of course would be to go to the 'regular' exchange in the Round Robin Trading thread but though prior to doing so I'd check with DG executives to make sure I'm not making a faux pas...

Thank you in advance for the answer to my question...

This message was edited Jan 10, 2008 8:19 PM

I'm afraid we are considered international, according to any US web site I'd like to order from, anyways :((

Betty, It's not that we members at DG consider you "international". You are just what we consider our neighbors to most of us in northern US states. :-)
It's the Postal Service and Dept of Agriculture that have issues with some products crossing borders.
I am not an expert on it, but officially there is a certificate that must be obtained to formally send seeds. That's about all I know.
I do know DG'ers here send seeds all over including international destinations both formally and informally, so hopefully someone will chime in with suggestions. Cyndie

There is probably a size trigger, But I do know there has to a customs declaration on packages. I sent a couple of pounds of squash seed to a friend in Canad this past year. No problems, but I did have to file a declaration for Canadian customs. Live material is a bigger problem because some things are quarantined to prevent the spread of diseases.

Yes, I've heard that the USDA and US Postal Service consider any country other than U.S.A. as international. I have only been a member of DG for a little over a year and I remember reading a post shortly after joining where someone here in the U.S. did a trade with someone in Canada without purchasing that $60 phytosanitary certificate. I guess your plants can and will be confiscated if you get caught shipping without it, and you can also be fined! So, best to be aware of the consequences if trading plants across the border. I searched DG and found this info: http://davesgarden.com/tools/trading_primer/5/

What kind of an exchange Betty?

If you're going to try some cross-border trading, I'd recommend seeds rather than plants--those tend to be easier to get into other countries in the first place, plus if they get hung up in customs for a few extra days they're not going to die.

Or, if you are close enough to the border with a big hidey hole in your trunk, you could drive them over and mail from the US...(big grin)

Spoken like a true northerner who lives near the border. ;-)

Just a craft exchange, no plants...wasn't sure if I had to post it on the International thread site or not..most of my friends here at DG are US...lol

Normally I don't even remember that there is a border between us...lol..

My question was more NOT to step on anyones toes...

Well Betty, If it's crafts-not agriculture, doesn't look like anyone's toes will get bruised. I say post where you think is most appropriate, and most of the people you want to exchange with spend their time.
Great thing about internet- we see the boundaries dissolve. I think the purpose of the international is the same as say "Northeast" forum to bring regions together for discussions so that people in that region can help each other to garden.

I think the real reason the international trading is separate is because of the issues with getting plants across borders. If you've got something else that you want to send, then the only issue is if the postage is more expensive between Canada and the US than it is within each country, so see what the people in the swap have to say about that.

I found this regarding mailing to other countries, but couldn't find the list of restrictions and prohibited items. http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immc1_009.htm#ep732760

Don't feel like a stranger!!!! Many growers/companies consider Hawaii and Alaska as foreign countries. Our rates are the same from the Mainland as CA to NY....but they love to add on horrendous fees to ship to us because we are "different". It ain't rocket science!!!!!

It would appear our DG International Trading Primer is in need of some updating.

This is a CITES issue and both the US and Canada voluntarily participated.
http://www.cites.org/

Regarding a phytosanitary certificate, it's not so much you need to purchase one to drop in the box or the bubble mailer more so that you may be required to have the contents of your box or bubble mailer inspected before a phyto may be issued and there is a cost associated with same.

Any person in the US who is sending or receiving seeds across borders needs to check here-
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/smalllots_seed.shtml

If you are from the US and are considering a seed trade, please do check into possibly applying for the seed permit. It's not nearly as difficult to procure as an import or an export permit for plants. Also too, you can call APHIS and ask as many questions as you want. They'll even help you fill out the forms. If you have the Latin names of the seeds, APHIS can check the binomials you provide against a list for any additional permits that might be required. APHIS will take the time to make sure we fully understand the process.

Bettypauze- regarding craft items, they are normally ok. Crafts made from natural materials may be confiscated and destroyed regardless of which Country they are being shipped into or out of. One good thing about customs declarations is that if you are very thorough in your description, chances are pretty good your package won't be accepted if there's going to be a problem with it. Probably a good thing in the current environment to fully disclose. In other words, if you have a craft project made out of birch bark, disclose same. Have a decorative wall hanging that is utilizing berries or pinecones... disclose same.

Sounding a little bit as if our governments have gone over the deep end adhering to CITES? Not really. Think about how WalMart was discovered to have imported thousands of natural bark Christmas trees from China in the fall of '06 that had NOT been fumigated that were found to contain some sort of a borer not all that dissimilar to the Emerald Ash Borer. Most of us are familiar with the Emerald Ash Borer. That came to the US concealed in wooden pallets and is now destroying our Ash trees coast to coast not to mention the costs associated with trying to contain the borer or the cost to our forestry industry. We're talking billions of dollars all because wooden pallets weren't fumigated as they were supposed to have been. Our governments are doing the best they can to protect us from exotic species that could be injurious to public health and borers and other ickies and nasties that could be set loose on the continent of North America don't exactly respect International boundaries. We're in it together folks.

Preaching to the choir here!!! Walmart and Home Depot are often selling cute little flats of plants...the same ones that I am trying to murder out in the fields on a daily basis!!! But...ahem...they are not on the official invasive species list....so no one does anything!!! Many of the really nasty things come in because some grower has tried to get away with something shady....like the Coqui Frog in palms from PR...never went thru inspection! Even our mosquitos are gifts from the first white men who landed here, carrying them in the water barrels onboard their ships!!! Don't get me started....so many of our invasive plants have come from someone 'missing my Mom's garden'....