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Bananaman88
01-07-2008, 08:56 PM
Does anyone know the requirement for receiving/shipping banana plants or corms/rhizomes internationally? I thought I read on here once that if you are shipping/receiving less than a certain number of plants that you didn't need phytosanitary papers. Did I dream that? My wife does rice research and they ship rice seed and she seems to think that I'd need papers for even one plant. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Gabe15
01-07-2008, 09:56 PM
Depends where they are coming from and where they are going. If you are getting them from overseas and bringing them into the US, you need an import permit (easy to get from the USDA) and the nursery needs to supply a phyto certificate, most nurseries that send overseas either include one for free or charge about $50 (in my experience). If you are sending them out, it depends on the laws of the destination country.

Bananaman88
01-07-2008, 10:50 PM
I'm looking to possibly import a couple of plants. One from Japan and one from the Dominican Republic. Both are from individuals rather than a nursery, though I don't think that would make a difference. I've been reading up on it at www.aphis.usda.gov. Thanks for the info, Gabe!

inkcube
01-07-2008, 10:55 PM
every time i have brought plants back from Central America i need a phyto certificate & i was bringing them from the family farm to my lab/greenhouse.

Mark Hall
01-08-2008, 04:17 AM
I have just bought two different bananas from Thailand and you needed a phyto and another document showing what chemicals they were dipped in and for how long..........Parcel arrived and it hadn't even been checked so it slipped through our customs:nanawhopp:

Mr Happy
01-10-2008, 04:59 PM
Hi everybody :D
If you think I have to create another topic, tell me :-)

I'm living in France and I'd like to import musa from California.
A friend of mine lives there, what does she need to do ? Must she go to the governement, take an administrative and give it to the seller ?

Thank you :)

Gabe15
01-10-2008, 05:15 PM
Hi everybody :D
If you think I have to create another topic, tell me :-)

I'm living in France and I'd like to import musa from California.
A friend of mine lives there, what does she need to do ? Must she go to the governement, take an administrative and give it to the seller ?

Thank you :)

First of all, welcome to our group!


Sending plants out of the US is very easy, the problems occur when they get the receiving country, so you will have to check on the French plant import laws to see what your friend might need to send with the plant (export permit, phyto certificate...) and also what you might need to receive your plants (import permits).

Mr Happy
01-10-2008, 06:06 PM
Gabe,
Thank you for your welcome :)
I thought sellers knew what to do because they charge about 50$ for the phyto certificate, and i wanted to save part this money.
I'm going to check what I need.

Happy

AllenF
01-10-2008, 07:46 PM
You are going to be stuck paying the $50 for the phytosanitary certificate. It is something that you can only get from inspected nurseries/retailers.

I am looking into bringing some bananas from California into Canada. I will need a phytosanitary certificate from the vendor plus a receipt showing what I am getting from the vendor. Then I supply these to the government and they issue an approval for me to bring them in.

A few years ago I could have carried them across the border, called them a house plant, and needed no paperwork or approvals.

Allen

Mr Happy
01-11-2008, 04:06 AM
Thanks Allen. All is clear now.
regards
Happy

Bananaman88
01-12-2008, 07:22 AM
Thanks to everyone who posted with their knowledge of this subject. I appreciate it!

bigdog
01-12-2008, 10:51 AM
You need the PPQ 587 permit from APHIS. I've seen this seller from Thailand on eBay that just sends them with a phytosanitary certificate, but I'm not sure how the buyer can get away with it without this permit. The permit is pretty easy to get.

cedardave
01-12-2008, 12:10 PM
Might I suggest if you are bringing any plant into Canada... Use USPS and run screaming from UPS as far as means of shipping. For some reason UPS seems to be the plant police.... it just wont get there.

STEELVIPER
03-01-2008, 10:53 PM
I agree. UPS sucks. I have had no problems getting a few plants from Thailand recently. Phyto included.

BB73
06-15-2010, 08:11 AM
Hi everybody,

just found this "older" thread here. I can add some info for all European members to this, as I have been receiving bananas from the US in the past.
I once received an Ae Ae from Hawaii without phyto and it passed Greek customs without any problems. Offically phyto and an import permit is required).

The next time I received a naner from Florida with phyto, but it wasn't openend and checked. So still no problems.

The next banana will come from California tomorrow, but it already passed local customs according to the internet tracking.

In all cases I used USPS and it went just fine. I can't tell, that all customs in the EU are as "relaxed", as the Greek customs, but I would give it a try.

Gabe15
06-15-2010, 10:11 AM
I know I've tried to send plants to the UK without a phyto certificate and they were not happy about it and destroyed the plants. It totally depends on the country and what their import laws are, and sometimes the specific plants being sent too.

BB73
06-15-2010, 10:43 AM
In theory the import regulations of all EU countries should be the same, as there's no phyto required for shipping of plants within the EU.
But as you said, it depends on the country. I've heard it too, that the UK is checking intensive and I think Germany might be the same or even stricter.
But my experience here in Greece is positive.

Jack Daw
06-15-2010, 11:07 AM
...In all cases I used USPS and it went just fine. I can't tell, that all customs in the EU are as "relaxed", as the Greek customs, but I would give it a try.
Yup, it's the freedom of privacy in the mail. Something that our western friends usually forget, when it gets to security.
Hell, you are one of the oldest civilizations out there, of course it is relaxed. :ha:


I know I've tried to send plants to the UK without a phyto certificate and they were not happy about it and destroyed the plants. It totally depends on the country and what their import laws are, and sometimes the specific plants being sent too.
It would be easier to simply send the plant to another EU member country (preferably in the South-East) and have them ship the plants to UK.


But as you said, it depends on the country. I've heard it too, that the UK is checking intensive and I think Germany might be the same or even stricter.
Yep, all the way back to Austria it's one hell of a strict control. It must be wonderful to live there. :ha:

momoese
06-15-2010, 12:04 PM
The last pup I sent to Ante in Croatia via USPS with no phyto cert was intercepted and destroyed.

BB73
06-15-2010, 01:50 PM
I should start an import business with my luck (so far!)
Or just cultivate these plants and then sell them to you! :-)

Jack Daw
06-15-2010, 02:23 PM
The last pup I sent to Ante in Croatia via USPS with no phyto cert was intercepted and destroyed.
No regard for life there. Sad. They could have sent it back to you.

Kostas
06-15-2010, 05:12 PM
Here its all about labelling and packaging...You get that right to not rise any suspicion and its all great...

Abnshrek
06-15-2010, 05:18 PM
I put seeds on the package to Kostas :^)

Kostas
06-15-2010, 05:31 PM
And its content is growing fast here!!!:woohoonaner:

Thanks a lot Michael!!! :^)

Abnshrek
06-15-2010, 05:53 PM
And its content is growing fast here!!!:woohoonaner:

I figure a lil "white lie" is better than something getting destroyed for no reason. Not like the plant is hurting anything.. it was a t/c... :^)

BB73
06-16-2010, 04:52 AM
i just wanted to let you know, that my third corm has arrived today unbothered by customs.
It's a healthy big corm of a California Gold, that came from Jeff Earl. But he refused to mail directly overseas, so I had to make a "stop" at an mail forwarding service. But it worked!

Dalmatiansoap
06-16-2010, 05:04 AM
OK, Im moving to Greece:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

BB73
06-16-2010, 05:39 AM
OK, Im moving to Greece:ha::ha::ha:
:woohoonaner:

It shouldn't be more than a few hours drive down here! Shall I put a few beers in the fridge? I'll expect you tonight :-)

Dalmatiansoap
06-16-2010, 05:49 AM
It shouldn't be more than a few hours drive down here! Shall I put a few beers in the fridge? I'll expect you tonight :-)
Soda for me, I have drunk my barell four years ago:ha::ha::ha:
Cant make it before Saturday, so dont rush and prepare fish for the grill!
Should I get the firewood?:ha:
:nanadrink:

Jack Daw
06-16-2010, 10:52 AM
Need third for the party? :ha:

Dalmatiansoap
06-16-2010, 11:18 AM
You are allways Welcome!
:woohoonaner:

mushtaq86
06-16-2010, 11:49 AM
Never had any problems,receiving nanas from USA to UK,as long as corms are small,and the person at the other end knows what he is doing.:goteam: touch wood hopefully it stays that way.:ha::ha::ha:

jmoore
06-16-2010, 12:18 PM
Yes I suspect they saw what they thought was a plant with a rhizome that wasn't indiginous and all they could think was Japanese Knot Weed and alarm bells rang.

GreenFin
08-16-2012, 12:14 AM
You need the PPQ 587 permit from APHIS. I've seen this seller from Thailand on eBay that just sends them with a phytosanitary certificate, but I'm not sure how the buyer can get away with it without this permit. The permit is pretty easy to get.

Glad I came across this thread!

I ordered a plant from Thailand a couple of days ago and had no idea that I needed an import permit. Thanks to this thread I've printed off the appropriate form and will fax it in tomorrow.

I wonder what else I don't know that I don't know...