I am interested in thoughts on the legal importation of seeds. Let's say I wanted to import alot of different varieties of vegetable seed packets from Canada but do everything very properly. I know there is a small lots program with the USDA.
Let's say I want to just take a trip to a nice garden center in Calgary with seed racks (maybe call ahead to make sure they have interesting racks from interesting companies). Could I get a permit to drive up, purchase say $1000 worth of Canadian seed packets, and drive home showing the folks at the border my permit? I don't have any concrete plans I just drool over Canadian seed company offerings. Much as I do companies in Idaho and North Dakota except it's a non issue.
A long time ago I got one my best pea varieties from a Canadian company, at that time they still shipped to the U.S., i believe they stopped because of not wanting to fill out customs information. If there was another reason i don't remember. But I've gotten tomato seeds from canada since then in envelopes.
When I request seeds from foreign seed banks they always put something like "seeds for scientific purposes" or some variation on that theme. When i send seeds internationally i pretty much do the same on my customs declarations. They seem to make it fine. I figure that if it is for plant breeding then it is perfectly accurate and truthful.
When shipping to AU I've started trying to mark things with specific Latin scientific names and looking over non allowed lists. But I've only just started doing that.
Yes some do ship to the U.S. and some don't. I suppose those that dont could still be obtained by driving up to Canada with say a permit in hand and driving it back. This isnt really that far fetched for me. My family's farm which my parents live at and I visit sometimes is not far from the Alberta border. Would like to know more about the legal nitty gritty. Seems like it could be important for breeding and subsequent seed selling down the line to have followed all regulations properly. Or maybe not?
You need to contact AHPIS branch of USDA and apply for ePermit (PPQ Form 587). It will allow you tosend up to 50 seeds per variety without a phytosanitary certificate. You have to present your ID at your local LRA Office in order to get the Level 2 permit needed for international seed exportation. Due to the Government Shut-Down you'll probably have to wait. I've been waiting 3 weeks to get mine renewed (they're good for 3 years) and still haven't even received as much as email from them. Same *** different day for them, though. Red Tape B.S. so BigAg can stay in our pockets. Hope that the info was what you were looking for. Positive Vibrations...
I wrote them an email and they wrote back with detailed advice. Sounds doable, but not sure I will at this time.