Gardening on Cloud 9 » Seed Import Regulations

Shipping Seeds to Canada

Sandy — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:58:35 +0000

Compare to gardeners of the United States, gardeners in Canada seem to have an easier time in importing seeds from other countries. While Canada has its import regulations of seed to control and verify that seeds imported into Canada are free of prohibited noxious weeds and meet the minimum standards for purity and germination for the crop kind in question, these seed import regulations are relatively loose when comparing with those of the United States.

For shipping seeds into Canada, the importer must fill out the Import Declaration Form (CFIA/ACIA Form 4560), then sign the form and send it to the Import Service Center (ISC) that is closest to the point of entry. The Import Service Center and the Canadian Border Services Agency also require the use of a Request for Release Approval form (CFIA/ACIA Form 5272) as well as an acceptable certificate of analysis. Here is more information of the acceptable certificate of analysis.

And on top of all these, there may be additional requirements under other regulations, programs and such.

Exemptions from the Importation Requirements

Here is the good news for gardeners in Canada who are importing seeds merely for seed exchange or small purchase orders – There are exemptions from the importation requirements just mentioned. Neither the import declaration information nor the certificate of analysis need be supplied for the following seed importations.

Where the imported seed lot is 5 kg or less for large seeded crop kinds such as peas, wheat, soybeans and corn or is 500 g or less for small seeded crop kinds such as alfalfa, tomato or canola. See here for clarification of importations with multiple small seed lots. In order to determine whether the species is “large seeded” or small seeded, please refer to Approximate number of seeds per gram in The 2009 ABCs of Seed Importation into Canada. If the species is listed as having 199 seeds or less per gram, it is considered large seeded. If the species is listed as having 200 seeds or more per gram, it is considered small seeded.
For lots of herb seed that are 5 kg or less, or for flower seed, tree or shrub seed, true potato seed, ginseng, seeds of aquatic plants or onion/garlic multiplier sets.

Note that this exemption does not apply to wildflowers; importations of seed lots of wildflower species or mixtures that are greater than 500 grams require an import declaration and a certificate of analysis.
For further information, you can check the import regulations of seed into Canada in the official website of Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Quick Guide for Seed Swapping

Sandy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:04:07 +0000

Since every country has its own set of import restrictions of seeds, swapping seeds around the world can be confusing and problematic. Here is a quick guide for swapping seeds that always stays true, no matter which country the seeds are imported into.

Seeds should be picked straight from the plant. These seeds should not have touched the soil, and be free from pests, diseases and fungal spores.
Seeds should be well packed and clearly labeled with the type of seed, their origin and the intended use.
By doing so, customs authorities can then easily judge whether the imported seeds are permissible. And even if the seeds do not make it to their final destination, there shouldn’t be any legal come back. However, we should check for any regulations before sending seeds
As far as I know, post offices in UK have a book of regulations which tells people what they can export into various countries. The post offices in your country may have something similar as well.
Generally, we usually won’t encounter problems swapping seeds with people in our own country.

Seed Exchange & Import Regulations of Seeds

Sandy — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:56:42 +0000

Many gardeners love sharing and exchanging seeds amongst fellow enthusiasts around the world. These gardeners often have an abundance of seeds in their gardens that they are willing to share with others. And by exchanging seeds, these gardeners can try something different, and grow some seeds that are difficult to find in their local areas.

Exchanging seeds often involves international shipments. Most countries have some import restrictions of seeds, and it is essential that the importers contact the plant health department of their countries to check what are allowed to be imported into their countries, and obtain the necessary import permits (eg: Small Lots of Seed Permit), certificates (eg: Phytosanitary Certificate), or some kind of specific “statements”. Failure to obtain proper authorization prior to import may result in the seizure and confiscation of seeds by the government authorities.

After researching and learning about the import regulations of seed of the United States and the country’s Small Lots of Seed Permit program, out of curiosity, I have also checked out the import regulations of seeds of other countries as well. And here is what I have found. Hopefully, some of you may find this helpful.

USA
Canada
UK Plant Import Regulations
Ireland
Australian Import Regulations

Seed import and export is fairly free within the EU (European Union), but never the less there are likely to be some restrictions on certain plants.

If you have some links or information regarding the import regulations of seeds of your country that I don’t have here, please feel free to tell me about it, so I can add in your information here and share it with everyone.

Shipping Seeds to US – Small Lots of Seed Permit

Sandy — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 04:11:27 +0000

One person’s seeds are another person’s garden. In the gardening world, there are many communities of gardeners who are dedicated to sharing and exchanging seeds among fellow gardening enthusiasts around the world.

I have never given much thought about the problems of shipping seeds internationally, but only until recently, when I have been asked to send a big bag of seeds (over 300 grams) to a friend in the USA. That’s the first time I started worrying about potential seizure by the US authorities.

And here is what I have found and would like to share.

Until recent years, without a costly Phytosanitary Certificate, gardeners in the United States gambled on the chance that the seeds they exchanged or ordered from outside the United States could be confiscated and destroyed by the US authorities. In fact, many seed suppliers of other countries would not take the orders that requested seeds shipped to the United States.

However, this is not anymore true since May 2006, when the US Department of Agriculture relaxed its regulations involving the importation of seed from outside the United States and created the Small Lots of Seed Permit program.

Today, all gardeners in the United States need is the Small Lots of Seed Permit. Unless shipping bulk seed, gardeners do not need to purchase the costly Phytosanitary Certificate, which may exceed $80, depending on the country of origin. The cost of Phytosanitary Certificate made it almost impossible for gardeners in the United States to purchase hard-to-find seed from outside their country.

Small Lots of Seed Permit Program

The Small Lots of Seed Permit is free.
Once approved, the Permit will be valid for three years.
The Permit is good for multiple shipments.
The maximum number of seed packets of per order is 50, where each packet cannot contain more than 50 seeds or weigh more than 10 grams.
Obviously, seeds of species which are normally prohibited are not allowed into the US under the new Small Lots of Seed Program.
Seeds must be completely cleaned of soil, chaff, husks, etc., and complete fruits and berries are not allowed in under the new rules.
For fastest turn around time, apply on-line at https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/epermits.

New Procedures of Small Lots of Seed Permit Program

1. The importer (the gardener in the United States) obtains a Small Lots of Seed Permit
2. The importer sends the following to the exporter (eg: a company, a seed exchange society, or an individual outside of the United States)

a copy of the Small Lots of Seed Permit
a special label (green/yellow label) addressed to an US Inspection Station
a self-addressed label

3. The exporter sends the seeds, packed and labeled as required to the US Inspection Station indicated on copy of the Small Lots of Seed Permit.
4. The seeds will be checked at the US Inspection Station and forwarded to the intended recipient (the gardener in the United States).

For information to obtain the Small Lots of Seed Permit, check out the USDA website – Small Lots of Seed Permit