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Nova Scotia

Hello everyone!
We have been hearing reports regarding some Canadian growers sending their seed to the US and having their seed destroyed, returned or whatever. Since January 1, 2003 you cannot send any seed to the US without proper documentation (i.e. seed analysis certificate).
The US issue at hand is "noxious weed seed" which of course could be accidently co-mingled in very tiny seed such as flowers, tomatoes, etc. Unfortunately, for us pumpkin growers, all seed is included in this policy. As one major seed company stated - large seed such as pumpkins, corn, beans should not be included, but we have to abide.
It has caused a major headache for seed companies that deal with hundred of varieties. Simply writing "Cucurbit Maxima" on your customs label is not permissable, you just got lucky that it went through. I guess, for now, take your chances and hope you don't get 'picked' off.
We have to send a certificate with every order to the US. It has created more work and expense, but we cannot take the chance of having a customer's order destroyed. Imagine a 845 Bobier, 1016 Daletas, 735 Pukos seed being thrown in the garbage? Oh Mercy! I plan to discuss and address this seed regulation further in Niagara during the Pumpkin Seminar on March 28 and look forward to seeing everyone. Good luck to everyone and hope not too many seed get sacrificed. Danny

1/23/2004 2:37:22 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Danny, Thanks from all of us here at BP.
Seed analysis certificate. How do we obtain them?

Russ Landry
kahuna2

1/23/2004 3:02:33 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I have found this link to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It details the required forms and documents.required for import into the USA
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2002/20021223e.shtml

1/23/2004 3:17:06 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Seed export label, CFIA 5309 is now the required documentation. I took this passage below directly from the link above. Hope this helps

Kahuna2

Directive D-02-10 also outlines the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seeds (CPCPS), a quality system program which allows approved Canadian seed facilities to use CFIA 5309 labels. This program is being introduced to provide the seed export label option to exporters shipping small quantities of seeds to the US, for example seed packets in mail orders to gardeners.

On January 22, 2002, the United States implemented new seed import requirements which specified that all propagative seed shipments entering the US must have a phytosanitary certificate.
The CFIA also negotiated an exemption from these requirements for small seed shipments (less than five pounds) until January 1, 2003. Over the past year the CFIA, in collaboration with the Canadian seed industry, developed the CPCPS and the seed export label as an alternative for Canadian seed exporters shipping small quantities of seeds to the US, and negotiated its acceptance by the USDA.

The seed export label, CFIA 5309, is intended for use with small seed packets. Except for US seed, laboratory testing and seed analysis certificates (PPQ 925 or CFIA 5289) will be required for the bulk seed lots used to prepare seed packets that are shipped with seed export labels. The seed export label can only be used by facilities that are registered in the CPCPS.

1/23/2004 3:22:40 PM

Ontario, Canada.

More information follow this link for FAQ's.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-02-10qae.shtml

Q. What does an exporter have to do to use the new CFIA label that you have developed?
A. An exporter must be registered under the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seed (CPCPS) before they can use the CFIA 5309 label. The CPCPS is a quality system program, which is being introduced to provide the seed export label option to Canadian exporters shipping multiple small shipments of seeds to the US, for example seed packets in mail orders to gardeners.
Once an exporter is registered under the CPCPS, they need to have laboratory testing and seed analysis certificates (PPQ 925 or CFIA 5289) for the bulk seed lots (except for US seed, which requires only a proof of purchase from the US) used to prepare seed packets that are shipped to the US with seed export labels.

1/23/2004 3:30:07 PM

Ontario, Canada.

More information follow this link for FAQ's.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/dir/d-02-10qae.shtml

Q. What does an exporter have to do to use the new CFIA label that you have developed?
A. An exporter must be registered under the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seed (CPCPS) before they can use the CFIA 5309 label. The CPCPS is a quality system program, which is being introduced to provide the seed export label option to Canadian exporters shipping multiple small shipments of seeds to the US, for example seed packets in mail orders to gardeners.
Once an exporter is registered under the CPCPS, they need to have laboratory testing and seed analysis certificates (PPQ 925 or CFIA 5289) for the bulk seed lots (except for US seed, which requires only a proof of purchase from the US) used to prepare seed packets that are shipped to the US with seed export labels.

1/23/2004 3:32:06 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Q. Can I get the CFIA to inspect my seed lots when I want to use the new CFIA 5309 seed export label?
A. No. A CFIA inspector can only inspect and certify, by issuing phytosanitary certificates, entire shipments within fourteen days of shipment. The CFIA 5309 export label, on the other hand, is issued to seed exporters who participate in the CPCPS, after they have their original seed lots tested by a CFIA-accredited seed testing laboratory, or have demonstrated proof of US seed purchases and a quality system to maintain the integrity of seed lots. A complete listing of CFIA-accredited laboratories is found in Plant Protection Policy Directive D-02-10, which can be obtained from a local CFIA office or by visiting our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

1/23/2004 3:32:27 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seed (CPCPS)

Q. What is the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seed?
A. The CPCPS is a quality system program which allows approved Canadian seed facilities to use CFIA 5309 seed export labels. This program is being introduced to provide the seed export label option to exporters shipping multiple small shipments of seeds to the US, for example seed packets in mail orders to gardeners.
Q. Do all Canadian seed exporters have to register under the CPCPS?
A. No. The CPCPS is intended only for exporters that want to use the CFIA 5309 seed export label. All seed exporters who ship multiple small shipments of seeds, such as mail order houses, must register in the CPCPS if they intend to use CFIA 5309 labels. Exporters that only ship seed in bulk, or who export only a few shipments per year to the US, will not benefit by using CFIA 5309 labels and therefore do not need to register in the CPCPS.

1/23/2004 3:36:06 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Q. How can I become registered as an approved seed exporter under the CPCPS?
A. Details of how to become registered as an approved seed exporter to meet US entry requirements are specified in Plant Protection Policy Directive D-02-10, which can be obtained through your local CFIA office or by visiting our web site at www.inspection.gc.ca. Briefly summarized, the exporting facility must develop a Quality System, and submit an application to the Canadian Seed Institute (CSI) along with its Quality System Manual for review and approval. The Quality System must include documentation control and quality control procedures. Once an exporting facility has met the requirements and is approved by the CFIA, it is issued a unique CPCPS facility number. The registered facility is subject to annual program audits by the CFIA or a CFIA-approved inspection body. The CSI is a CFIA-approved inspection body for the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seed.
If you need assistance in developing a quality system, please contact the CSI at 240 Catherine Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2G8. They can also be reached by telephone at (613) 236-6451 or 1-800-516-3300, by fax at (613) 236-7000, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Q. Where can I get a registration form for the CPCPS?
A. The form to apply for registration under the CPCPS is available at CFIA offices, or on the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca. It is included in Plant Protection Policy Directive D-02-10 as Appendix 1.

1/23/2004 3:36:49 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Q. How much does it cost to be a registered seed exporter under the CPCPS?
A. Costs will vary depending on the size and scope of your operation. However, the basic cost is an annual registration fee of $700 for new participants (or $100, in addition to their current annual fee, for authorized importers) to be paid to the Canadian Seed Institute (the CFIA’s approved Inspection Body for this program). There are also annual audit costs, which are negotiated on a case by case basis with the Canadian Seed Institute. The cost for analysis of seed lots is approximately $35 per lot tested by a CFIA-accredited seed laboratory (refer to appendix 9 of Plant Protection Policy Directive D-02-10 for a list of the accredited laboratories). The cost of CFIA 5309 seed export labels are currently listed at $200 for 1,000 labels, $500 for 5,000 labels or $700 for 10,000 labels.

1/23/2004 3:37:25 PM

Farmington, Utah

Talking with the local postmaster. He looked up the PCP for seeds. One question that he found out for me was that the receiving end of of where seeds were to be delivered, if confiscated and destoyed, the package they were sent in will still be delivered and all other contents except the seeds themselves. This means that any letter, seed packets, monies(for return postage) will still be delivered along with a certificate explaning why the seeds were confiscated and destroyed. Any bubble packs coming from canada will still arrive. Wether there will be seeds in them is questionable.

1/23/2004 3:51:49 PM

Montoursville, PA

So how does this relate to the two conditions apparent at the Niagra Seminar. #1 Seed can go into Canada #2 Seed if claimed may not return to the US no matter what the source.
.....Holly Cow..TRADER BEWARE!!! I wonder who will be first to loose the whole shabootle in a trading box? Damn I can see the headlines now. "PUMPKIN SEED SMUGGLER JAILED, LOST CAR TOO"

1/23/2004 4:51:06 PM

Indiana

Hmmm I suppose you could hide them in a cd case and ship them as a cd.
Steve

1/23/2004 4:57:58 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Yeah! Doc you got it right. You can try to smuggle them in but don't get caught. You can loose the whole lot plus any other penalties the US law provides for illegal importation.

1/23/2004 5:05:00 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

There's many ways to send seed, it can be gotten around. A little bit of creativity, no writing "Pumpkin seed" on the package, using little boxes instead of bubbles(I do this when sending overseas)etc., etc., etc.....there's ways to get around it.

1/23/2004 5:05:21 PM

oh come on doc, there's plenty of spots to hide seed when your driving across the border to niagara and back! use your imagination!

1/23/2004 5:23:43 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Brigitte, I hope you are a good liar! Lets be careful out there!

1/23/2004 5:33:09 PM

Puyallup, WA

What a crock!! This is a bureaucracy run amuck! Who is being "protected"?

1/23/2004 6:56:49 PM

Ontario

I was stopped at the border with a 100 bublepacks packed full of seed, they ask what were the contents and I told them seeds and they didn't care they let me thru. I will be opening a PO Box in the states and will mail from there and receive from there. Any of my Candian friends wishing to send seed to the US could use me as the go between if they wish, for the cost of postage.

drew

1/23/2004 7:02:56 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Thanks Stan. A crock of the highest order. Can any one name any thing of recent memory that has caused this law to be developed. Hell, we are on the same continent for God sake.
There must be some special interest behind this. This does not really impact any jobs on either side. I just don't understand protectionisum of this sort. It is always
Mom and Pop who suffer in the long run. In canada it amounts to a ripoff of John Q. Imagine $700.00 dollars a year to certify my seeds are clean. Dam every Liberal Democrate bastard who snuck this in to some obscure bill.

1/23/2004 7:13:57 PM

Long Island,New York

Drew the mule...lol

1/23/2004 7:16:09 PM

Indiana

Danny
This sounds like an oportunity for the Dills to make some money. If you are already shipping your seeds certified you could have people ship their seeds thru you for a nominal fee. If that would be in compliance with the laws. Just a thought to get around this slightly crazy obstruction.
Steve

1/23/2004 9:32:42 PM

Sequim, WA

Until they come out with a pumpkin seed sniffing dog, I think we can get around it. Just send something with the seeds. A cassete tape, and a casette case with seeds in it. How did that get in there? This is a bunch of BS though. There's not enough work for customs stopping the BC bud from coming down here they have to go after pumpkin growers making criminals out of the ones who try to circumvent this stupid law? What weeds does Canada have that we don't have in the U.S.? Or bugs for that matter? We need to remind these clowns in government who they are working for. I reccomend we vote every incumbent elected official out of office at the first opportunity. Start over with whole new group of idiots. If we remind them that this is just a short term contract job maybe they'll remember who they work for. Hell a bunch of newbies can't hurt us any worse than the career politicians and beaurocrats do. I know I misspelled that workd but I say it fine and know the definition.

1/24/2004 12:21:37 AM

Long Island,New York

Pack the seeds in a block of cocaine...then it will surely get through.

1/24/2004 8:44:10 AM

Montoursville, PA

Holey heck....Be creative! Some of you need a stuffed tuba.

1/24/2004 4:16:19 PM