Japanese importing

Does anyone know what is required for someone in Japan to legally send seeds to the US?

Hey Jan . . .

No bubble wrap envelopes [at least that is what my PO says].
So, I usually ship in a small box that is well padded - with bubble wrap *ha*
and fill out Customs Declaration CN22

Emma

Emma,
Do you know if it would be the same way for seeds come here from Japan?
What do you write on the Customs form. I know some people just write "gift".

I get seeds from Japan in Bubble Wrap Envelopes.
On the custom form I check OTHER and I also check GIFT and write 'Plus' in front of it because I usually do send gift seeds.

Under the area
'Quantity and detailed descriptions of contents'
I put 'Garden Seeds' 4-packs
or how ever many packs there are. If I'm sending a lot, I just put 'Garden Seeds'.

Emma

Thanks

You can get a permit from USDA/APHIS/PPQ to import small lots of seeds from other countries...this web site has some useful information:

http://www.plantexplorers.com/twiningvine/articles.php/tPath/18

Joseph

They must have got my last little bubble envelope from Germany.... it's been missing..
tried tosign up.. they were with me till submit ..then they said try again later...
make it easy .. Buddy..
Gordon

When did you order Gordon? I ordered some from Germany 1/8/08 and just got them yesterday. I think he was just as shocked as I was that they finally made it!
Caren

Caren..well that's good to hear...mine was two days after on the 10th.. so maybe then tomorrow mine will arrive.. Idid sign up finally... for a level two account with the USDA..ow ifIcanonly find where /how to apply for the seed import numbers ... that will help them come through... now that the new regs are suposedly inplace..
Thanks for the good outlook... Gordon

HAHA>> My seeds from Germany arrived today..only 5 weeks.. you can't knowhow happy they have made me.. they were maked.. "arrived damaged " and " Return to Sender so perhaps it made the trip twice ... not bad considering.. Now to plant... Gordon

HAHA indeed! Happy planting Gordon! ;o)

Ah..it was marked damaged... now Isee the damage... most all of the seeds I ordered were crushed to almost a powder ....maybe three seeds out of 14 made it.. in the bubble envelope....the free pack that was included made it through OK... the seller was very nice and offered a replacement.. they had been returned there... as the street address had a 1 with a top line ...making it look like a 7... and there I thought my delay was an importing snafu.. with the powers that be........
I did sign up with the USDA for a level two account...so I can transact with them.
could some one tell me where to go to get a seed import certificate there... perhaps what it's called.. I can't seem to find it there..
Gordon

You have to appear in person at a USDA office and they will issue you a password,etc after you show them ID & all. That's the only thing that's holding me back. My nearest office is about 50 miles from me.

This thread has been quite educational. I had no idea you had to show up in person to get a password and certificate just to ship to and receive seeds from other countries. I guess I can count my good fortune since I have received everything sent to me so far and all my sent packages also made it! :-)

(Knock on wood!)

There are only certain seeds that require a permit. Brugmansia and Datura definitely require a permit (to be legal). There is only one person that I know of that will go thru the hassle of it and I don't believe she sells seeds. My seed permit is useless :o(
Caren

I never comply with the USDA...the more you tell them the more hassles I have...

When I send seeds I never declare them...the ONLY time my seeds that I sent to Japan were opened was when I declared them...the Japanese authorities examined them and decided to pass them anyway...

I send seeds packaged so that the envelope appears perfectly(!) flat,just like a regular flat greeting card and I use corrugated cardboard in which I place the seeds inbetween the corrugations and sometime create a rough looking 'card' to look as if it has been created by a relatively 'young child' as an art project by covering the cardboard in construction paper.with a declaration of paper/cardboard greeting card and request that others from any all countries preferably do the do the exact same...

When a thick cardboard card will not suffice The only other item I am willing to declare is "Religious Article Rosary Beads"...those have never been molested either...

So far,40+ years of trades from just about every country in the world has passed through with no problems whatsoever...

The more you comply,sometimes the more hassles you feed into and invite...

I'm not suggesting of course that anyone else circumvent the haggles of doing things the official way...I"m simply stating that I remain blissfully 'ignorant of all the new fangled complications' that I just don't really understand and I intend to continue to package in the way that has worked for me for over 4 decades.

I started trading through penpal magazines decades before the computer information age...and I still package and request packaging as described...

Best of Luck to those who want to comply with every 'new-fangled' device of Beelzebub...

TTY,...

Ron


This message was edited Feb 18, 2008 6:08 AM

Ron - I think you have the right idea! I, too, have found more problems if I am totally honest when mailing. Ignorance is bliss in my case! :-)

I have tried the legal way and as you said I have run into more problems. There is really not much that can stand in the way of my seed obsessions. I will continue to buy with or with out permits.
I love the cardboard Idea I may have to use that!!

Gordon- it you want to be legal log in to APHIS and fill out the 546 forms. If you find someone to take the permits for Brug seed PLMK.
Caren

Thanks Ron, for the detailed instructions. Unfortunately, I have lost two letters in the Moroccan mail recently, one contained a little amulet for my mother, the other seeds I had sold at ebay. Luckily, I can replace both. My mistake, I put fancy stickers on it, which attracted attention, next time I will print the envelope...Perhaps I should stick a Koran verse on the envelope to discourage dishonest Moroccan post office workers, so it can leave the country as religiously safe...


Martin

:-) Good plan, Martin! :-)

Thanks Caren..I'll go looking for my permit there.. I do try to comply as it's not without some reason (sometimes)... I do declare gifts under $5 value... although turning something into something else seems OK..if you were to string seeds together .. it would then indeed be a rosery.. I've seen roserys sold ..made of seeds and all sorts of stones..
I was lucky enough while in Panama looking for Plumeria..and Brugs to find and bring back a couple of shamanistic wands..made by some native... youm oook abago perhaps.. used no doubt in some sort of native growing ritual.. anyway to my supprise... well can you guess what they are made of.. so now I always travel with abit of colored cloth.. yarn and feathers and tape..
Gordon

This message was edited Feb 18, 2008 2:21 PM

Hilarious and ingenious, I love it.

Even the monks (may God forgive them ...:) used to smuggle silk moth eggs in days gone bye...If I remember correctly they hid them in their walking sticks...

Hi All,

I trade with a lot of people worldwide, I also sell a few seeds on ebay which the U.S. have been buying(thanks), it seems in the U.S. some states confiscate and others dont, I send in a business sized envelope with seeds wrapped in bubblewrap inside a folded A4 letter, seeds arrive intact and the buyer/trader is happy and all is well. I cant believe that you have to buy a permit to import small lot seeds, how the heck are they going to monitor that seriously, they must have millions of letters arriving in everyday.

The seed I have are on the allowed list so it is not if it is illegal, i thought we had tough customs, but our customs are fine as long as the seeds are on the allowed list and declared.

Mmmmmmm what will they think of next to feed their coffers:)

Annette