Gary McCarthy
Chumono
Does one have to obtain a special permit to ship seedlings and or trees throughout the US?
shipping trees
- Thread starter Gary McCarthy
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Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
No, but some states have restrictions.
Cable
Omono
Incoming or outgoing? Like, if you sold a tree on eBay would you need to limit who you sell to?
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Cable
Omono
Well that's annoying. lol. I was thinking of selling some plants this year. Thanks for the info, looks like I have more research to do.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Welcome. Yes some research. Wigerts Bonsai Nursery is good example of stating they can't ship. Wonder if there is a list somewhere easily one can look at for reference.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Watch out though....after waiting for 15 minutes to talk to the postmaster who was on the phone when I asked about shipping plants the other clerk said” yea,everybody does it”after I just got done reading their website about breaking pest quarantine restrictions having large fines and imprisonment.
WesB
Mame
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That’s funny. They are much cooler here and I always go to 2 of the 3 that never have long lines. It’s worth the extra 10 minutes of driving. Literally a 25 minute wait to buy 1 stamp has happened if I go to the convient one. Ouch!
By asking directly and following the instructions given means you have declared and followed their rules so there’s nothing to worry about. It’s in their best intrest ($) to help and serve you.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
We can't expect the clerks at the post office to know the law. You must look up the laws of the country & state to which you are shipping your material and comply. You must also know your own country and state law on export and comply as well. It sounds complicated but all it takes is a little internet search at the local government web sites of the origination and destination locations.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Shipping trees - or plants in general. There are 2 very specific categories. Hobby or Home growers, list them has houseplants. And professional nurseries - here the main income source is the nursery. Many states require nurseries to be licensed, and inspected. If your state requires nurseries to be inspected, shipping as a professional can be a little complex, you have to have your nursery certification current.
The amateur is held to a lower standard as far as the shipping rules go. The rules are state by state, but in general California, Arizona, Florida and Hawaii do actually inspect incoming boxes for plants that have not been inspected. Florida is mainly looking for Citrus or plants that carry diseases of citrus. Arizona, California and Florida are pretty loose about letting people ship out of the state. So if you are in Florida, and want to ship to New York, no problem. Just do it. Hawaii requires outbound plant shipments to be inspected. Pain in the ass.
So if you are in New York, and are shipping to anywhere other than California, Arizona, Florida or Hawaii, you should have no trouble, especially if you use the most generic of descriptions ''house plants''. Or no description at all, if they don't ask, don't tell.
If you need to ship to a state requiring inspection, every international airport has an APHIS office. You can take your box, unsealed, ready to ship, bring it to the APHIS office (Agriculture Plant Health Inspection Service) the APHIS office is usually next to or in with the Dept of Commerce Customs Inspection Offices. Ask the officer for a Phytosanitary certificate. The plant usually MUST be bare root, or bare root packed with clean, long fiber sphagnum. Emphasis on clean roots & clean sphagnum. The officer will inspect the plant, then issue a certificate and you must seal the box in their presence and apply the inspection label to the box. (usually applied so that it will get cut if box is opened). Then you can leave with your box and take it over to USPS or FedEx or UPS or what ever carrier you desire. The fee for the phytosanitary certificate is usually about $50, or it was some 10 years ago when I last had it done. I have not done it recently.
The other option is to just ship as a private person. Don't label the box in any way indicating plants. Cross your fingers, and hope it goes through. Last I heard they are inspecting only 5 % of packages. but I could be off on that.
The amateur is held to a lower standard as far as the shipping rules go. The rules are state by state, but in general California, Arizona, Florida and Hawaii do actually inspect incoming boxes for plants that have not been inspected. Florida is mainly looking for Citrus or plants that carry diseases of citrus. Arizona, California and Florida are pretty loose about letting people ship out of the state. So if you are in Florida, and want to ship to New York, no problem. Just do it. Hawaii requires outbound plant shipments to be inspected. Pain in the ass.
So if you are in New York, and are shipping to anywhere other than California, Arizona, Florida or Hawaii, you should have no trouble, especially if you use the most generic of descriptions ''house plants''. Or no description at all, if they don't ask, don't tell.
If you need to ship to a state requiring inspection, every international airport has an APHIS office. You can take your box, unsealed, ready to ship, bring it to the APHIS office (Agriculture Plant Health Inspection Service) the APHIS office is usually next to or in with the Dept of Commerce Customs Inspection Offices. Ask the officer for a Phytosanitary certificate. The plant usually MUST be bare root, or bare root packed with clean, long fiber sphagnum. Emphasis on clean roots & clean sphagnum. The officer will inspect the plant, then issue a certificate and you must seal the box in their presence and apply the inspection label to the box. (usually applied so that it will get cut if box is opened). Then you can leave with your box and take it over to USPS or FedEx or UPS or what ever carrier you desire. The fee for the phytosanitary certificate is usually about $50, or it was some 10 years ago when I last had it done. I have not done it recently.
The other option is to just ship as a private person. Don't label the box in any way indicating plants. Cross your fingers, and hope it goes through. Last I heard they are inspecting only 5 % of packages. but I could be off on that.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Right...people mail plants...is like saying, people rob banks. There is knowing right from wrong. Understanding the rules protects you. And at the end of the day...the lesson there.
Hyn Patty
Shohin
Geesh, I wish a phytosanitary certificate was only $50 these days. Last time I checked in Georgia they were about $100, though cheaper if you schedule them to come to an event or a nursery. Sometimes when I import plants from overseas I can get them for much less or even for free (Asian countries charge so little for them they are often included at no additional cost but it varies).
