International Bonsai Imports into the US

[rockm]

If you’re importing to the U.S. it can take up to threes years of quarantine either in the country of origin or in USDA approved sites inthe us

Here’s a noted bonsai professional Adam Jones in Japan on the issue:

“Tree House Bonsai works closely with the USDA office in Tokyo to ensure our trees are processed properly. Similarly to Europe, trees eligible for import into the USA must first complete a three year quarantine processduring which time they undergo a comprehensive series of insecticide and fungicide treatments. Typically most trees must be bare-rooted for shipment, however special permits can be requested for trees not found on the general list.”

Tree House Bonsai: Bonsai Garden in Japan

Discover the beauty of Japanese bonsai at Tree House Bonsai, owned by bonsai professional Adam Jones. Step into a serene oasis where bonsai artistry comes to life. The garden is located in Ami City, Ibaraki, Japan. Come and visit our bonsai garden.

treehousebonsai.com

For more look here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/how-to-import

 

[timur]

Only a week or two?? I've heard of multi-year quarantine periods for stuff coming into the US. Where are you from?

I co-run a nursery in Southeast Asia and have a contact in Texas who regularly imports bonsai from my nursery this information came from him. I also regularly import Podocarpus from Taiwan in 40ft container volumes for resale, and the quarantine process at my nursery only takes a maximum of one week.

It’s illogical for a quarantine process to take years, what truly matters as an importer is providing a detailed explanation of the instructions and requirements stated in the import permit (this is very important), as well as ensuring that the exporter provides all the necessary documents, such as the phytosanitary certificate and a clearance document from the geological agency (if the bonsai is OTR)

 

[timur]

If you’re importing to the U.S. it can take up to threes years of quarantine either in the country of origin or in USDA approved sites inthe us

Here’s a noted bonsai professional Adam Jones in Japan on the issue:

“Tree House Bonsai works closely with the USDA office in Tokyo to ensure our trees are processed properly. Similarly to Europe, trees eligible for import into the USA must first complete a three year quarantine processduring which time they undergo a comprehensive series of insecticide and fungicide treatments. Typically most trees must be bare-rooted for shipment, however special permits can be requested for trees not found on the general list.”

Tree House Bonsai: Bonsai Garden in Japan

Discover the beauty of Japanese bonsai at Tree House Bonsai, owned by bonsai professional Adam Jones. Step into a serene oasis where bonsai artistry comes to life. The garden is located in Ami City, Ibaraki, Japan. Come and visit our bonsai garden.

treehousebonsai.com

For more look here:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/how-to-import

So let me try to explain it in a simple way.

When we talk about the quarantine process, it doesn’t refer to the period after the goods enter a country rather, it begins from the time the bonsai is cultivated at its place of origin. A nursery (or in this case, the exporter) must meet specific and detailed criteria. For example, the bonsai must have been maintained in a controlled environment for at least three years. This environment must also meet certain conditions for instance, the bonsai must be grown at least 8 cm above the ground surface. Generally, these key requirements are already listed in the import permit document.

As an example, as I mentioned earlier, I imported Podocarpus from Taiwan in 2024. Now, I can’t resell it to the U.S., for instance, because once the Podocarpus arrived at my nursery, it was inspected by quarantine officers. After it passed the quarantine inspection, an official document was issued. However, I still need to wait until 2027 before it becomes eligible for export again.

Below, I’ve attached a copy of the import permit for reference.

 

[rockm]

So let me try to explain it in a simple way.

When we talk about the quarantine process, it doesn’t refer to the period after the goods enter a country rather, it begins from the time the bonsai is cultivated at its place of origin. A nursery (or in this case, the exporter) must meet specific and detailed criteria. For example, the bonsai must have been maintained in a controlled environment for at least three years. This environment must also meet certain conditions for instance, the bonsai must be grown at least 8 cm above the ground surface. Generally, these key requirements are already listed in the import permit document.

As an example, as I mentioned earlier, I imported Podocarpus from Taiwan in 2024. Now, I can’t resell it to the U.S., for instance, because once the Podocarpus arrived at my nursery, it was inspected by quarantine officers. After it passed the quarantine inspection, an official document was issued. However, I still need to wait until 2027 before it becomes eligible for export again.

Below, I’ve attached a copy of the import permit for reference.

The conditions you’ve describe are what are in the aphis quarantine requirements and the protocol for importing bonsai into the U.S. I’ve listed all that above.

Cultivation in a contolled environment for three years. That period in a controlled environment is the quarantine period. That period can be in controlled environments IN the destination country OR origin country provided both have growing facilities that meet the APHIS requirements

 

[timur]

Come on, you can yank my chain, refer to me in third person, or or name drop all you want. You know what you did. What was the point? Honestly?

I won't even go into the EU & white pine thing you said. Please, next time let those people you name dropped talk instead of you. I'd be annoyed if you included me in this way.
Just don't talk about something you know nothing about, then attack others on the exact topic, and and then hide behind other people's names.

So for satsuki, there are definitely two or three nurseries in Japan that can export to the US right away. You just have to do a few things with USDA and they can just ship to the US right away and you can pick it up at the USDA port of entry.
The bare rooting during winter dormancy is not an issue for them at all. And while it may be pricey, it is nothing like what you describe.

If others that know more about pines, elms, maples can chime in, fine. But that's not you.

Yes, you’re absolutely right there’s a lot of misinformation circulating that confuses people.

Quarantine procedures when goods arrive in the destination country do not take up to three years. In essence, it’s simply a cross-check between the information on the phytosanitary certificate and the physical plants. If a physical inspection is needed, it usually involves checking root samples or other specific parts of the plants.

When someone establishes a nursery, the relevant government agency will conduct an inspection to assess its compliance. The criteria are almost identical (about 99%) to those required by the USDA for example, the nursery must have proper bonsai benches, plants must not be placed directly on the ground, and so on.

Finally, in the last stage, the plants undergo soil/media cleaning, pest and disease treatment by a Quarantine Laboratory, and eventually, a phytosanitary certificate is issued, confirming that the plants are cleared for shipment.

As for the issue of flooding bonsai exports from Japan to the USA, why doesn’t that happen? It’s because both importers and exporters operate under export–import quotas to prevent market monopolies or other negative economic effects.

In short, the process of importing bonsai is actually quite straightforward it’s just that much of the information circulating today is misleading.