Getting import permits

[Tanukimo]

Hmm it seems like too much trouble to try importing them yourself, although it might be worth it to buy plants from places that don't ship internationally. There is still the question of phytosanitary certificates though.... I asked this because I go to Asia sometimes so I was thinking of bringing some plants back with me.

[Not a Number]

I just renewed my permit online. Let's see how long it takes to get approved and new labels mailed out.

[dionae]

Well, guess we will see how this goes. This is what I had to do to get the order through.

I had to contact the seller and get phytosanitary certificates and make sure he knew not to ship until he received my import permits and label for the package. Next I had to go and make a UPS account because after USDA inspects the plants you will need a UPS or Fedex account # so the inspection station can forward the plants to you at your cost.

Next I had to get the seller a package together. I placed the label in plastic labeled "outside of package" and put my permits in plastic labeled "inside with plants". These are shipped to the seller(I used priority).

Now I just have to wait. Update when something significant happens.

Label, for the outside of package.



Permits, for inside of package.



Contents of package to be shipped to seller.

[Not a Number]

Well I received my new labels and permits today. So it took about 10-11 days from the time I submitted the renewal application and receiving the paperwork in the mail.

I've yet to import plants but fortunately I live close enough to an inspection center that I could pick them up.

[dionae]

Paperwork arrived to the seller today. Plants should ship in a few days. I'll update when they ship.

[dionae]

Plants shipped today. I'll update when they get to the inspection station.

[rcl27]

Just sent a quick email to the Maryland office asking about emailing labels. I was going for a joking lighthearted tone so hopefully my computer joke doesn't make me sound like a **** lol.

Is it necessary to physically mail the labels to the overseas exporter or could I email him the labels, let him print them, and him attach the labels to the parcel being imported? I am new to this (just applied for the 587 permit on the 29th) and find mailing the labels a little cumbersome considering we have these strange devices known as computers haha. I appreciate you helping and look forward to hearing back!

Best,

Robert Cody Lawson

I am 99% sure we have to physically mail everything but a little feedback never hurts to get things changed/modernized. As often as I have imported plants from czplants I am kind of surprised he never mentioned me needing labels.

[Not a Number]

As I posted before you send copies of the permits. The labels have to be original. The one of the directions on the back of the label reads:

"Do not duplicate the label. Only original labels will be accepted."

[rcl27]

So all they need to do is add a barcode, scan it at the inspection center, that reports back to APHIS database, and import label becomes invalid/used. Am I wrong? They could even bypass the barcode and just type in the label's import number and mark it as used. Just seems overly complicated to mail to permit holder, mail to exporter, and then mail back to permit holder again.

[rcl27]

I realize I am preaching to the choir here too haha. Government agencies are never known or lauded for their efficiency. Given the rather small size of this department though I would imagine they could change things relatively easily. Even when I worked back at the DoD we had a lot more flexibility than one would initially assume.