buying orchids (retail) from foreign countries

[Davidcee]

I'm a newbie, and my question is this: do I need to pay cites, or other fees, if I'm buying from, say Brazil, or Taiwan vendors (including Ebay) who have a retail online website? Of course, I'm not referring to shipping costs, per se.

I forgot to Mention that I live in Mississippi.

---------- Post added at 12:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------

I see that no one has answered my question, which tells me I should probably do some of my own research

Well, I did some checking around, and have learned that there is no simple answer for all situations.

So I am narrowing down my question. What if the plants are shipped bare-root or are flasks? Will customs allow them to pass through with no paperwork?

[Leafmite]

You might want to contact the vendors or department of agriculture and ask. I have heard that plants can be seized and destroyed (brutal!) if the paperwork isn't all correct. I have never bought directly from overseas vendors so I wouldn't know.

[ronaldhanko]

You need an import permit which can be obtained on from the USDA-APHIS website. If you apply for this make sure that you list all the kinds of orchids you may be importing and whether they are plants, seedlings, flasks, etc. Don't just put one Genus on the import permit or you will be limited to that. You need to ask them for he green and yellow import stickers which you will have to send to the exporter. You will also need the proper Cites papers from the vendor or your plants will be seized. Have the vendor address the plants to you and not to the Inspection Station where they will come in or you will have to go pick them up. You can do this but it is a hassle if the IS is far away. It is good to make contact with the inspection station and establish a relationship with someone there or at least let them know you are importing plants. Also, in vitro plants (plants in flasks) are far less likely to be seized under Cites than live plants though plants that are obviously seedlings are also less likely to be seized. You can occasionally get plants through by having them labeled as something other than plants and having them sent directly to your home, but you are inviting trouble to do that - visits from the feds, fines, etc.

[Davidcee]

Thanks, good information. I'll tread carefully...

[silken]

Another option if you are buying from certain vendors like Ching Hua (Taiwan) and Ecuagenera (Ecuador) to name a couple is to wait until there is an orchid show in your area and then pre-order plants from the vendors attending the show. These two vendors and others like Ten Shin attend a lot of shows in N. America and then you don't have to do any of the paper work. Just enjoy the show and pick up and pay for your plants!

[Davidcee]

Originally Posted by silken

Another option if you are buying from certain vendors like Ching Hua (Taiwan) and Ecuagenera (Ecuador) to name a couple is to wait until there is an orchid show in your area and then pre-order plants from the vendors attending the show. These two vendors and others like Ten Shin attend a lot of shows in N. America and then you don't have to do any of the paper work. Just enjoy the show and pick up and pay for your plants!

Even better!

[ronaldhanko]

I should have mentioned that. I often get plants from Ecuagenera that way.

[Island Girl]

I realize this thread is kinda old, but I was curious about flasks... Do u need an import permit with them as well? (I pretty much got duped into buying a flask w/o an import permit, etc. on eBay last year.. but, didn't get the flask... They just took my $$ (& they're still around!) Long story!). But anyways, I am curious about this...

EDITED TO ADD: I will say I DO understand CITES & all of that now, (and, I am not importing anything currently, or in the near future, so don't worry! Lol) But I was just curious about the flask/import permit thing... Which I'm pretty sure you do need a permit to import flasks!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

I realize this thread is kinda old, but I was curious about flasks... Do u need an import permit with them as well? (I pretty much got duped into buying a flask w/o an import permit, etc. on eBay last year.. but, didn't get the flask... They just took my $$ (& they're still around!) Long story!). But anyways, I am curious about this...

EDITED TO ADD: I will say I DO understand CITES & all of that now, (and, I am not importing anything currently, or in the near future, so don't worry! Lol) But I was just curious about the flask/import permit thing... Which I'm pretty sure you do need a permit to import flasks!

With flasks you still need an import permit, but you only pay for a phytosanitary certificate. As far as I know, CITES for flasks is not required.

What kind of plants are you looking for?

[NYCorchidman]

Vendor website usually says what the requirements are for international purchase. cost of paper work and minimum purchase volume of all things.

The ones without paper work may or may not make it through the customs.