FLORIDA
SUMMARY OF PLANT PROTECTION REGULATIONS
Updated December 2012
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Plant Industry
Post Office Box 147100
Gainesville, Florida 32614 7100
Plant Industry / Divisions & Offices / Home - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
NURSERY STOCK, NOXIOUS WEED, QUARANTINES AND APIARY REGULATIONS
Richard Gaskalla, Director (Nursery, Noxious Weed, Quarantine, and Apiary Regulations)
Phone: (352) 395-4700
Fax: (352) 395-4610
Email:
Richard.Gaskalla@FreshFromFlorida.com
GENERAL SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS
Any person, nurseryman, stock dealer, agent, or plant broker who desires to ship into this state nursery stock from any state, territory, or district of the United States, shall comply with the following regulations:
The nurseryman, stock dealer, agent or plant broker must be listed in the latest directory of registered or certified nurseries, agents, stock dealers, and plant brokers of the state where such nursery stock originated.
A valid certificate of inspection must be attached to each separate package, bundle, box, or shipment of nursery stock shipped into Florida. In club orders, one tag must be attached to each individual order and another to the package containing the individual orders.
All shipments of plants or plant products entering peninsular Florida by road are required to stop at an agricultural inspection station where they will be screened for proper certification and subject to cargo inspection by the department. All shipments of plants or plant products entering Florida through mail and parcel facilities are subject to inspection and screening for proper certification. Each shipment shall be accompanied with a bill of lading, or other valid documentation which contains the following information:
1. Name and address of shipper or consignor
2. Name and physical address of receiver or consignee
3. Description of plants or plant products in the shipment
4. Place and state/country of origin
5. Ultimate destination of shipment if other than receiver or consignee
6. Additional certification requirements for plant pest freedom for regulated commodities are listed below.
7. All documents shall be in the English Language, or shall have attached an accurate English translation containing adequate information for examination of the product.
By CITES regulation all the people flying on international flights that carry tobacco products from one country to another, is in fact breaking international law for not having Pyto papers. The air lines and customs simply look the other way. I was passing through Korea and an elderly woman was trying to take some seeds in her carry on bag. And they was giving her all kinds of grief and making threats to her. So I ask them why they allow all the smokers to carry tobacco products so freely which is part of a plant and is regulated by CITES and Korea is a member of CITES. Needless to say the situation got ugly for a while but when I fly abroad I usually are carrying orchid seeds. So I pulled out the CITES excerpts and showed them seeds are exempt and tobacco was not it took some time but she kept her seeds, I missed my flight but that’s how it goes. Laws are only as good as they are enforced, and lots of I done no problem people out there.