Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 00:15:00
From: Jim Hamilton, orchids@sonic.net
Subject: [12553] Import Permits

I've received a few queries based on the posting I made re above. 

There are two ways to get orchids into the U.S.  from abroad.  You can
have them sent to you or you can go and get them yourself.  You need
permits for both.  Both types of permits can be obtained from the same
address:

U.S. Dept of Agriculture
Animal & Plant Inspection Service (APHIS)
4700 River Rd.
Riverdale, MD  20737

Having plants sent to your requires your filling out an application.  In
turn you will receive green/yellow stickers printed with your permit
number and port of entry.  You send one (or more if more than one box
will be sent) to your exporter who will affix one to each box of plants
sent to you.  .These stickers are free and have no expiration date.

If you go to get them yourself (whether collecting or purchasing) you
need a General Permit (GP).  This is the permit that costs $70 and has a
two year life.  Being a commercial orchid nursery and collecting abroad
(legally), this is the permit that comes to my mind when the issue of
import permits arises.  The GP is also good for shipping plants out of
the U.S. (considering, of course, meeting the import requirements of the
receiving country).

In summary:  Plants being shipped, use green/yellow stickers.  If you are
accompanying your plants, get a GP.

Aside:  Don't use your yellow/green stickers if you accompany your plants
even if you have a GP.  I want to share with you what can happen if you
do.  Early on in my collecting days, I was bringing plants back from
Costa Rica.  They were checked as baggage.  I had my GP and I put my
green/yellow stickers on the box believing it looked very official and
would help expedite the process through customs and ag.  Wrong! My port
of entry is San Francisco on my stickers. I came in from San Jose, Costa
Rica through Miami.  I probably don't have to finish this story.  My
plants went on to San Francisco while I was still clearing customs in
Miami.  Fortunately I was heading home and my plants and I were reunited.
 Had I not used the stickers, the plants would have cleared in Miami, and
been able to leave San Francisco airport with me upon arrival.  As it
turned out we arrived in San Francisco after ag was done for the day.
This meant returning to the airport the following day (a three hour
drive) to claim the plants.

Didn't mean to be so long-winded, but wanted to try to unconfuse those I
may have befuddled.