Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Trip to Italy

cwavec · March 9, 2018

@JosephineRose
Yes, I also went back and looked at the conditions. Found the "language"
(as follows for reference by others):

"Hand carry through personal baggage is not authorized under this permit
and all shipments utilizing this permit must enter the United States through
a USDA Plant Inspection Station via Parcel Post or Air mail".

Also, I initiated a new application and followed it through to where it
allows the choice of hand carry. I'm not sure either why this is but I
suppose it has something to do with the application being meant for a
variety of different permits.

Good idea to go with everything prepared ahead of time. A couple of
things to be wary of though:

1) Looking on through the permit you will find that the entire 4 pages
including the conditions has to be included with each shipment.

2) They also require a "seed list" and/or invoice. This was difficult for me
because I was trying so hard to get it right and the requirements are
very detailed. It could be hard for you too, especially if you don't know
ahead of time what you will be sending. They do want a lot of info
including whether your seeds are hybrid or OP (Don't remember
where I found that one).

3) Packing and labeling requirements are very specific as well. May be
a good idea to go with a handful of blank labels and some small
baggies. On my shipment all items were commercial seed packets
and I had no opportunity to add anything to them. But the regs seem
to allow for putting all the information on the seed list. I did that and
referred to each item as a "commercial packet". That worked OK.
I can send you a copy of my seed list if you like. Yours will be different
but mine is at least an example of one that came through OK.

4) Be careful to address each package exactly as shown on the green
and yellow label. If you didn't choose an inspection station they
probably assigned you one.

5) There is also "language" about onward shipment from USDA to you.
"USDA/APHIS does not defray any additional shipping costs incurred..."
This refers to the case where your original shipment is via a courier
other than the Post Office. I had to include a prepaid domestic mailer.
Elsewhere (somewhere) they indicate that if your shipment arrives as
MAIL then, once inspected, they will drop it into the US Mail at no
additional charge.

Please forgive me for going on at such length about all this.

"Fascinating"? I guess you could say so. Shrug.

March 9, 2018	#17
cwavec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: PA - 5b Posts: 92	Not surprised @JosephineRose Yes, I also went back and looked at the conditions. Found the "language" (as follows for reference by others): "Hand carry through personal baggage is not authorized under this permit and all shipments utilizing this permit must enter the United States through a USDA Plant Inspection Station via Parcel Post or Air mail". Also, I initiated a new application and followed it through to where it allows the choice of hand carry. I'm not sure either why this is but I suppose it has something to do with the application being meant for a variety of different permits. Good idea to go with everything prepared ahead of time. A couple of things to be wary of though: 1) Looking on through the permit you will find that the entire 4 pages including the conditions has to be included with each shipment. 2) They also require a "seed list" and/or invoice. This was difficult for me because I was trying so hard to get it right and the requirements are very detailed. It could be hard for you too, especially if you don't know ahead of time what you will be sending. They do want a lot of info including whether your seeds are hybrid or OP (Don't remember where I found that one). 3) Packing and labeling requirements are very specific as well. May be a good idea to go with a handful of blank labels and some small baggies. On my shipment all items were commercial seed packets and I had no opportunity to add anything to them. But the regs seem to allow for putting all the information on the seed list. I did that and referred to each item as a "commercial packet". That worked OK. I can send you a copy of my seed list if you like. Yours will be different but mine is at least an example of one that came through OK. 4) Be careful to address each package exactly as shown on the green and yellow label. If you didn't choose an inspection station they probably assigned you one. 5) There is also "language" about onward shipment from USDA to you. "USDA/APHIS does not defray any additional shipping costs incurred..." This refers to the case where your original shipment is via a courier other than the Post Office. I had to include a prepaid domestic mailer. Elsewhere (somewhere) they indicate that if your shipment arrives as MAIL then, once inspected, they will drop it into the US Mail at no additional charge. Please forgive me for going on at such length about all this. "Fascinating"? I guess you could say so. Shrug.