Is That an Orchid in Your Carry-On or Are You Just Happy to Enter the US? - Orchid Board

jrodpad · #1 06-10-2010, 11:44 AM

Quick question for the group.

I'm going to be heading down to Brazil in the next few weeks and I've already picked out a few orchid-related detours from our otherwise non-orchid travels. A few of the detours are vendors.

Is there any way to bring or send an orchid or two (or ten) back to the US? I'm assuming that I can't just put them in my luggage as there's a general restriction on bringing foreign plants/fruits/veggies back from a foreign country... but can they be shipped back? I've never had 'chids shipped into the country before. What's the procedure like? Is it wildly expensive? Is this something that I'd have to worry about or will the vendor generally take care of import/export issues?

It's going to be sweet, sweet torture if I can't get anything back home.

Thanks!

- J

camille1585 · #2 06-10-2010, 12:08 PM

You can bring flasks back with no problem at at, usually you just need a phytosanitary certificate and you can take it in your carry on luggage.

As for bringing back plants you can't ship or bring them back with you without the appropriate paperwork, which can be costly. You will need a CITES certificate, and it's only good for one genus. Bring back several genera of orchids, and you will need one certificate per genus. Even then, certain orchids are still illegal, notably everything which is on appendice I of the CITES convention. That's all paphs and phrags, as well as a few others.
You will usually need a phytosanitary certificate for the orchids as well, and it's likely that the US will require an either an export permit from Brazil or an import permit.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 06-10-2010, 12:16 PM

Or you can get seed. You don't need diddly squat but the seeds themselves.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 06-10-2010, 12:33 PM

Damn!!!!

WTF!!!!

US customs and the USDA or whatever government agency can go suck a load of sludge!

Now seeds need import permits too!!!???

I just found this out from an overseas supplier of seeds! What a load of crap!

What the hell is the US's reasoning for this?! It's gotta be a money/power issue. There's no other logical reasoning for this. I heard it from a professor working at a botanical garden how government powers are making plant trade very difficult. It's governmental and bureaucratic greed! Screw this!

Non-orchid groups are affected by this too! Holy s**t I wanna puke!

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 06-10-2010, 12:37 PM

Man, they might as well just toss this whole CITES and Appendix whatever nonsense!

The fees for just bringing in seeds is absolutely ridiculous!

peeweelovesbooks · #6 06-10-2010, 12:45 PM

I thought that the nurseries could ship them to you.

lambelkip · #7 06-10-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

You can bring flasks back with no problem at at, usually you just need a phytosanitary certificate and you can take it in your carry on luggage.

As for bringing back plants you can't ship or bring them back with you without the appropriate paperwork, which can be costly. You will need a CITES certificate, and it's only good for one genus. Bring back several genera of orchids, and you will need one certificate per genus. Even then, certain orchids are still illegal, notably everything which is on appendice I of the CITES convention. That's all paphs and phrags, as well as a few others.
You will usually need a phytosanitary certificate for the orchids as well, and it's likely that the US will require an either an export permit from Brazil or an import permit.

The CITES certificate needs to list each species, not just the genus. Certificates can list multiple species, so you only need one. Phytosanitary certificates are required in all cases. The import permit is usually not required, if you're bringing a small number of plants back in your luggage. It is required for all shipments. Many major vendors do shows in the U.S., so they may be able to import them for you, and ship them from inside the country.

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Or you can get seed. You don't need diddly squat but the seeds themselves.

Phytosanitary certificates are required for all seed. This requirement is not specific to orchids.
For seed of Appendix I species, a CITES certificate and import permit is required.

flasks of any orchid species or hybrid can be brought in with just a Phytosanitary certificate.

camille1585 · #8 06-10-2010, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Damn!!!!

WTF!!!!

US customs and the USDA or whatever government agency can go suck a load of sludge!

Now seeds need import permits too!!!

I just found this out from an overseas supplier of seeds! What a load of crap!

What the hell is the US's reasoning for this?! It's gotta be a money/power issue. There's no other logical reasoning for this. I heard it from a professor working at a botanical garden how government powers are making plant trade very difficult. It's governmental and bureaucratic greed! Screw this!

Non-orchid groups are affected by this too! Holy s**t I wanna puke!

I don't know about seeds leaving the US, but I got seed from the OSP with no problems.

But your right about the this being govt/beautcratic greed. From what I understand, in the plant breeding world this is starting to be a problem. Countries have decided that whatever plants grow in their country 'belong' to them, and don't like researchers and plants breeders taking seed and plants out of the country to use for commercial purposes (breeding mainly) because they don't get paid for the use of 'their' national germplasm. A bunch of red tape has been put in place in many countries, and it's affecting everyone. I don't know if that's the reason for seeds needing import permits, but it's one possible explanation.

camille1585 · #9 06-10-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambelkip

The CITES certificate needs to list each species, not just the genus. Certificates can list multiple species, so you only need one. Phytosanitary certificates are required in all cases. The import permit is usually not required, if you're bringing a small number of plants back in your luggage. It is required for all shipments. Many major vendors do shows in the U.S., so they may be able to import them for you, and ship them from inside the country.

Yes, but it's still one certificate per genus. You just have to list all the hybrids and/or species of the genus on that one certificate. That's the way I understood it when I was looking up everything to eventually bring some orchids back to europe.

jrodpad · #10 06-10-2010, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the info.

Looks like flasks will be the way to go if I come back with anything. I am completely intimidated by the idea of raising orchids from a flask - I think I'm way too much of a noob for that - but if it's the only way that I'm going to be able to take (**cough**) souvenirs home with me, then so be it.

Ordinarily, who produces the phytosanitary certificate? The vendor? Brazilian customs? Is it expensive?

Also, aside from careful packing, is there anything I should do to ensure that the flasked orchids survive the trip in my carry-on?

Thanks again. Don't know what I'd do without you guys and the great advice.

- J