From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Sydney, Australia

First I have heard of this, but I'm getting bad news that US customs are destroying seeds I've sent. Not good to hear!!! 85 Bubble packs have gone out, 58 to the US, a few have made it, but have had news 5 lots have been destroyed. Guess there's nothing to be done about it now. My apologies for anyone who has recieved an empty pack. Hope they don't destroy my PGVG donation of 200 seeds, that would be a huge loss! Could you let me know if they've been stolen, I have more seeds left that I could send. But guess I'll need a phyto certificate if I send any to the US in the future......
How do you go about getting a phyto certificate? Is it expensive, hard to do? What about Canada, do they need a phyto certificate? Seeds have arrived in the UK no problem, and or course all around Australia.....Ben

4/5/2005 8:42:55 AM

Commack, NY

Ben, i dont know if you got my email or not, but i was one of the unlucky ones unfortunatly.

4/5/2005 8:44:18 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Ben,
The department of your government that deals with agriculture will put you in touch with the relevant office.
Checkout my diary to see what a Phyto certificate looks like and also the procedure for obtaining one in the UK.
Cost me about $10 took a week or two but will be easier in future now we know what to do.

4/5/2005 9:37:59 AM

Massillon, Ohio

nick got his from you and was very excited !! this is a very weird situation.

4/5/2005 10:22:24 AM

[email protected]

Ben
A pyto is only needed to get seeds into the U.S. The U.S. does not have a hobby Exclusion. Which means we can trade seeds up to 2 pounds without anything, but all seeds entering the U.S. have to be inspected by your local Dept. of Agriculture. The seeds are inspected for contaminations which include weed seeds. Upon inspection they issue you a pyto and you have to send it with the seeds. The requirement is to have a pyto for each address you send to. What I do is have someone in the U.S. receive all my seeds I am sending at the time(send them in appropriate bubble packs inside a box) and then disperse them from there.
The U.S. Dept of Agriculture is in the process of changing their law to have a hobby exclusion but it may take up to 5 years.
Eddy

4/5/2005 10:52:27 AM

ipswich, ma usa

Eddy

You got mail. :)

John (5150)

4/5/2005 11:11:11 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Ben: I was one of the unlucky ones as well :(

4/5/2005 1:07:03 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ben, We certainly appreciate your concern but it is in no way your fault. Some suggestions above have merit. Just taking a chance would seem to get you captured by our inspectors at least in some percentage. You are aware your kind gift to me has been captured. I remember the intent on your part not the unkindly loss. Apparently some relief is in the planning but some years out in the future.
....For all of us I speak with a big thank you for trying.

4/5/2005 4:39:12 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

I have sent 64 bubbles to the US over the last three months and I know that all except 6 made it. I am still waiting on those. I sent a few at a time and they wern't too "fat". I'm not sure if this was just good luck or what. Perhaps the Austrailian address was the red flag.

4/5/2005 5:01:23 PM

San Diego

Ben's seeds got taken from me and my friend in san diego. Seems that customs is getting more consistant. First time ever for either of us to get our seeds taken. Have to be sneaky now if you want to send them;) Jimmy

4/5/2005 5:28:53 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS)is who looks after this in your country here is a link to there website.
http://www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=6F311B17-CC75-4D86-A4C7ECD585F752FD&contType=outputs

4/5/2005 5:48:24 PM

New Hampshire

Ben,
Sorry buddie, They took and destroyed all the seeds you mailed me. Just got the empty pack yesterday. Jim Ford

4/5/2005 6:24:31 PM

Leicester, NY

Ben,
Your seeds made it to my house, no problem. I wonder why customs destroys some packages and allows others through? Sounds like huge inconsistencies amongst the inspectors or perhaps the different inspecting stations. Real nice of them to forward on the empty pack!

4/5/2005 6:43:51 PM

Midwest

Ben,
Your seeds made it to my house also. Thank you !!

4/5/2005 6:50:39 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Thanks Again Ben...They got here also...Looks to me like the customs certificate was all that was needed in NJ.

4/5/2005 8:47:10 PM

[email protected]

Your seeds arrived here safe & sound Ben. Thank You!

Rumor has it the hobby exception might become a reality some time this summer. I sure hope so!

4/5/2005 9:40:35 PM

Clinton, Iowa

AHHHH darn....Mine were destroyed alos!!bummer! thanks for the effort anyway Benny!!
DAN

4/5/2005 10:11:32 PM

So. Maine

Hey Ben , I was one with an empty envolope also, thanks for trying anyway.
Al Berard

4/6/2005 12:33:04 AM

C N Y

i was a lucky one, Ben, but very lax in responding!
i love that method of yours of numbering each and
every seed, with a menu included in the Ziploc.
i would not have the courage to do that, but still a great idea----i am sure i would confuse the seed number with its weight!!!!!!! lol....sorry to everyone that did not get Ben's seeds. a while back, a large quantity of MY seeds were confiscated going into Australia, NOT ones going to Ben.
a very unpleasant experience for all. eric

4/6/2005 3:04:02 AM

Key West, FL

I got the seeds, thanks Ben!

4/6/2005 3:16:35 PM

Sydney, Australia

Thanks for the reply's, a bit of a mixed bag, about 50% seem to have made it to the destinations. Strange! I'll try and work out the phyto certificate thing, so no more seeds get toasted! Thanks for all the info, Mark, Eddy and John! Makes things more difficult for sure! Will work it out.... Ben

4/7/2005 9:01:23 AM

Indiana

mine got x'ed too

Tom

4/7/2005 10:35:07 AM

new holland ohio

Got my seeds today Ben thank you
Chuck

4/8/2005 10:26:33 AM

Amherst, WI

I got an empty pack, saying the seeds were destroyed. Thanks for trying, Ben.

4/11/2005 10:17:10 PM