I've not fully followed the discussion here, until it was brought to moderator attention due to related comments on another thread about this orchid.
There are a few things I want to say...
1. Orchid Board does not condone illegal activity in any way, including the illegal importation of orchids or orchid material.
2. Remember that CITES is not the only paperwork required and even if something is not covered by CITES other paperwork could be required. I will not comment on what is or isn't required as I'm not an expert, but it is up to all people buying from abroad to ensure the correct paperwork is in place. Do NOT rely on the vendor assuring you it's all in order.
We have had members in the past here who talked about how they bought from vendors who claimed they needed no paperwork to import the plants into the US and then either ended up with empty boxes and a note from Customs to say the goods were confiscated, or even had Customers and Border Control turn up on their doorstep demanding proof they had not been intentionally importing illegal goods.
It is YOUR responsibility to check all paperwork is in place.
3. Import within the EU (including into the UK from the EU) can be done pretty much free of any paperwork, unless importing in large quantities. Restrictions are in effect to move into or out of the EU. See here from the RHS advice for the EU
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=435
SteveC who started this thread talked about not having a problem with paperwork buying from Germany, and as he is in the UK that should be the case from my understanding. As above, within the EU we are fairly free to move plants to/from other countries in the EU. I see these Ophrys orchids at shows in the UK regularly and they are commonly grown in the UK because of the fairly free movement of plants within the EU.
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