International shipping requirement for bananas

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

Mr Happy · 01-10-2008, 04:59 PM

Hi everybody

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Happy

Hi everybody

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB73

...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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe15

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB73

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.

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! :-)

01-07-2008, 08:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 330,013 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	International shipping requirement for bananas 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!

01-07-2008, 09:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,504,497 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 8,246 Times in 2,201 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

01-07-2008, 10:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 330,013 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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!

01-07-2008, 10:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
inkcube retired GMO maestro Location: traveling the world Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 121 BananaBucks : 5,944 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 96 Times in 43 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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.

01-08-2008, 04:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mark Hall Mark Mark Hall's Photo Gallery Location: Windsor u.k. Find me on the map! Name: Mark Hall Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 168,421 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 385 Times Was Thanked 282 Times in 123 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 15 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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 __________________ Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

01-10-2008, 04:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr Happy Location: Near Paris, France Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 2,418 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas Hi everybody 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

01-10-2008, 06:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mr Happy Location: Near Paris, France Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 2,418 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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

01-10-2008, 07:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
AllenF Junior Member AllenF's Photo Gallery Location: Edmonton, Alberta Find me on the map! Zone: 3a Name: Allen Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 151 BananaBucks : 45,847 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 22 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 35 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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 __________________ You don't have to be crazy to grow Bananas in Alberta, but it helps

01-11-2008, 04:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mr Happy Location: Near Paris, France Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 2,418 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas Thanks Allen. All is clear now. regards Happy

01-12-2008, 07:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 330,013 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas Thanks to everyone who posted with their knowledge of this subject. I appreciate it!

01-12-2008, 10:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,004 BananaBucks : 968,683 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 218 Times Was Thanked 1,790 Times in 504 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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.

01-12-2008, 12:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
cedardave Junior Member cedardave's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 127 BananaBucks : 34,220 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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.

03-01-2008, 10:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
STEELVIPER Mechwarrior STEELVIPER's Photo Gallery Location: Riverside,CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: Mark Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 724 BananaBucks : 139,197 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 44 Times Was Thanked 102 Times in 62 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 169 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas I agree. UPS sucks. I have had no problems getting a few plants from Thailand recently. Phyto included. __________________

06-15-2010, 08:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
BB73 BB73's Photo Gallery Location: Thessaloniki/Greece Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Bernd Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 370 BananaBucks : 76,518 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 228 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 159 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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.

06-15-2010, 10:11 AM	#16 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,504,497 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 8,246 Times in 2,201 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

06-15-2010, 10:43 AM	#17 (permalink)
BB73 BB73's Photo Gallery Location: Thessaloniki/Greece Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Bernd Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 370 BananaBucks : 76,518 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 228 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 159 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas 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.

06-15-2010, 12:04 PM	#19 (permalink)
momoese Banana grower momoese's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Zone: zone 10 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 7,593 BananaBucks : 8,553 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,763 Times Was Thanked 10,896 Times in 3,314 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 730 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas The last pup I sent to Ante in Croatia via USPS with no phyto cert was intercepted and destroyed.

06-15-2010, 01:50 PM	#20 (permalink)
BB73 BB73's Photo Gallery Location: Thessaloniki/Greece Find me on the map! Zone: 9a Name: Bernd Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 370 BananaBucks : 76,518 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 228 Times Was Thanked 419 Times in 159 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: International shipping requirement for bananas I should start an import business with my luck (so far!) Or just cultivate these plants and then sell them to you! :-)

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Winter shipping . . Ideas	formontcalamus	Other Plants	2	12-17-2007 01:23 AM
Shipping bananas in the winter	Tropicallvr	Main Banana Discussion	5	12-15-2007 06:37 PM
International Banana Conference 2008	MediaHound	Main Banana Discussion	1	07-10-2007 11:31 PM
Shipping from USA and out	Gard	Main Banana Discussion	1	10-10-2006 12:40 AM
Will the plants i buy die on the shipping..?	Musa_Cavandish	Main Banana Discussion	5	09-12-2006 05:32 PM