ฺBringing orchid seedlings into the country

[cpeters5]

I have a chance to travel to Thailand this winter and plan to bring back some orchids. Nothing in the CITES list.

A friend offers a bottle of some Rhynchostylis seedlings (sterilized). Not sure how many seeldings in that bottle, but lots. Do I need a permit to bring it into US?
pac

[katrina]

Are you thinking of bringing them back in flask or will you unflask and then bring them back? The rules are different for each.

I think flasks are fine but outside of flasks I believe you need the proper accompanying paperwork. At the very least you'll need phytosantitary paperwork or you risk confiscation/fines.

If others here can't answer this for certain...make a couple of phone calls. The potential consequences are not worth the risk...especially for a plant that is easily obtained in our own country.

Bringing Agricultural Products Into the United States | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Fairorchids]

There several issues here:

1. The seedling bottle will probably violate security/air line regulations. I tried to get a ruling from the TSA on this issue, but everyone I spoke with just blindly refered to the 4 oz rule.

If you place the flask in your checked luggage you are probably OK on that point, but secondary issues are:
Rough handling of luggage.
Is luggage stored outdoors during stop-overs?

2. Best is to get an import license. You have time to do this.

Without an IL you may bring in up to 12 plants for personal use, but you must have an invoice showing clearly what they are, and you must have a phytosanitary certificate.

HOWEVER, you are responsible for all costs related to inspection upon arrival in US air port. If there is no inspection station in the air port, that means transfer via bonded courier, and subsequent shipment from inspection station to your house (in the winter!).

If there is an inspection station in/near the air port, try to schedule inspection in the air port in advance. I believe that this is possible in Newark (Linden inspection station).

If you fly via LAX, SFO or another major air port, that is where the inspection would have to take place.

[NYCorchidman]

The best bet is to bring them in flask in the checked luggage.

Make sure you pack well so that they don't get damaged.

By the way, anyone ever tried to bring the flask in a carry-on?
Do they stop you for agar gel??

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If the seedlings are still in flask, it will need a phytosanitary certificate.

And if customs finds out and bugs you, you'll need at least a hobby import permit.

You start getting tons of these and they find out, you'll be coerced into buying a $70 import permit.

Nothing is free of needing paperwork nowadays.

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

The best bet is to bring them in flask in the checked luggage.

Make sure you pack well so that they don't get damaged.

By the way, anyone ever tried to bring the flask in a carry-on?
Do they stop you for agar gel??

That is what I tried to clarify with the TSA. All they could say, was that the 4 oz limit would apply if carried in hand luggage.

---------- Post added at 11:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

If the seedlings are still in flask, it will need a phytosanitary certificate.

And if customs finds out and bugs you, you'll need at least a hobby import permit.

You start getting tons of these and they find out, you'll be coerced into buying a $70 import permit.

Nothing is free of needing paperwork nowadays.

Please clarify the 'hobby import permit'. I have only heard of the $70 import permit (and max 12 plants for own consumption without permit, but still requiring phyto-sanitary certificate + inspection at one of the official inspection stations.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The hobby permit is free. It doesn't allow you to import large amounts of plants frequently nor does it allow you to import plants that are protected by CITES, and you cannot import to sell. You're importing to keep the plants.

Importing/exporting of plants legally is a process, and a pain.

Certain Paphs are CITES protected and require that $70 Protected Plant Permit.

[tropterrarium]

One clarification. Almost ALL orchids ARE CITES protected. It depends at what level. Most are in Appendix II (less stringent), some are in Appendix I (more stringent). A few are truly not (e.g. food vanilla).

To make things more interesting, there are also many export regulations form the source country. If a person sells you something in the country, there is no guarantee that it can also leave the country. Usually vendors do not advertise that little issue.

It is MUCH easier to ask a vendor to bring a specific plant/flask to a US show next time they come over. Or if that vendor is not doing US shows, then maybe an fellow countryman can do it. Most vendors have established procedures on how to successfully deal with all the paperwork.

I happen to be a member of a IUCN specialist group (Molluscs), but I will not dare to even attempt to import orchids. WAY too messy affair. A cheap plant abroad can become extremely costly.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I had thought that all orchids were under CITES protection. Those guys at the USDA were kinda fuzzy with their language and were probably just giving me a hard time.

I think some of the plants I had imported were Appendix I, and that's when they got their panties in a bunch. -_-

This is one of the reasons why if I do a group order, people have got to be honest and commit. "Government red tape", as they like to call it, sucks. It's no fun to deal with. Those who don't have to go through this process doesn't know how frustrating it can be. Inexpensive plants become expensive because of this "government red tape". Sensitive plants can also die in transit because of "rules and regulations" if they get held up. If I have to pick up the plants myself from the USDA inspection stations for any reason, or have to go there to sign up for some asinine permit, it takes time away from other things that are more important in my personal life. Most of all, an order can take up to 1 - 1 1/2 months to complete.

To me, for me to import hybrids is, imo, not worth it, especially if those hybrids can either be made or found in the US. I'd rather import species. Species orchids are the ones that are worth the trouble for a lot of reasons, imo.

[Gill41]

I know that the Flask that I brought back from Bali Indonesia (to Perth, Western Australia) was not a Vanda, they were Cattleyas but I imagine the same rules would apply. I brought the Flask back in my Hand Luggage & declared it. In the Airport I was directed to quarantine, where the Agar was inspected & duly passed. I had no other problems.