Seed Confiscated

[Palm Guy]

Hi all,

My recent order of palm seeds from Ortanique was confiscated by our local customs department. Does anyone have tips to get my seeds back? - the legal way of course. Can I pay for any lab testing? I really want my seeds back!

Cheers,

Mike

[Gileno Machado]

I hadn't happened to me since a couple months ago. Well, I'm guessing...

Catastrophic situation here Mike...It seems I've lost: the Tahinas from RPS, interesting Cycad seeds from Ortanique, rare stuff from a Florida friend and a bunch of special seeds from Hawaii...all in the same month...sigh

The only time it ever happened, a couple of years ago, I received a letter from the local Agricultural authority (it was a bigger box with 100 Bismarckias). After filling out several bureaucratic papers, they said that I'd have to pay for a quarentine test, to be performed in Brasília, 2000 km away from me, and that it would take some 6 months for the seeds to get back, if approved...Now I received no invoice so far...

[Palm Guy]

That's terrible Gileno! Of all the orders they took the Tahina order??? Man that is irritating. I lost some Carpoxylon and Bismarckia. I guess customs have a thing for Bismarckia. I have a feeling our seeds might end up in a local park which is admittedly better than letting such rare seed going to waste.

I'm guessing from what you told me that the quarantine process is quite time consuming...I would be willing to stick it out... if approved.

ARRRGGHH!!!

[Really full garden]

Mike did they give you a reason? I have to be careful here not to order large quantities.That raises red flags that involve more taxes and an endless amount of papers to be stamped and worst of all special "fees".

[Palm Guy]

Scott,

Apparently, they stated that palm seed importation is prohibited. Thats the first time I heard of that. Imported 'dehusked' coconuts are for sale in the local markets which really confuses me. A dehusked coconut is very similiar to many a palm seed so I don't see what the exception would be. Maybe the coconuts are cleaned in a special way??

Mike

[Tad]

I know your pain, customs agents have siezed several loads of seed, and live plants from me in the past.

[tjwalters]

...I would be willing to stick it out... if approved.

I think most palm seeds would perish during the long process.

[Tyrone]

Are they not accountable and have to follow guidelines and legislation that all can view. I thought AQIS was bad, but at least they contact you in a timely manner with a reason, a contact person and the ability to send it all back to the sender for a $40 fee. It seems like the US customs follow the same rules as the CIA. "It never happened-we can't comment"

I feel your pain. But what can you do I suppose. :beatingdh:

Best regards

Tyrone

[Walter John]

What we need in this palm seed business is a member of the IPS who's a pilot, preferably with a small plane and is willing to fly in anywhere on the globe dropping off palm seed and ranch hands, Colombia drug deal style.

[Really full garden]

Mike was there a change in the government? A new minister? Here things change every four years.I call it the Guatemalan Tango.About five years ago I had trouble getting anything in and now it seems that as long as I pay the import taxes plus VAT everything is ok,but I know that it can change without notice so I get whatever I want when it is offered by RPS or Ortanique.

[Mark_NoVA]

I had it happen a couple of years ago with an order from Rare Palm Seeds. They were nice and resent seeds from a U.S. guy, I guess.

[_Keith]

What we need in this palm seed business is a member of the IPS who's a pilot, preferably with a small plane and is willing to fly in anywhere on the globe dropping off palm seed and ranch hands, Colombia drug deal style.

I can see it now Wal. Get in a boat and take a ride to a designated place in the swamps. The pilot comes in low and slow, when directly overhead the door of the plane pops open a garbage bag is quickly ejected. The engine roars as the plane banks and takes leave. Then we motor out from under overhanging trees quickly retrieve the bag and head out our own way. We don't dare take it into the boat landing and risk getting intercepted there, so we drop it in another spot on the banks for later walk up retrieval. Later when asked about all of the seedlings, we look with a sly grin, and say "danged birds pooping seeds all over the place."

[rozpalm]

Just curious, are my small seed orders that I get from RPS technically illegal under US ag import rules? I have never had a problem.

[Wai`anae Steve]

Well it looks like other governments are screwing "us" besides the U.S. govt.

THE GOVERNMENT THAT GOVERNS LESS, GOVERNS BEST.

Tell that to a liberal who just lost some palm seeds and he may come over to my side

[Tad]

Keith thats only in the movies.

much Less romantic in real life....sitting on the stainless steel tables wondering if they have brainscanning equip yet, watching them toss your vehicle and hoping like hell they dont look in the half eaten bag of doritos on the floor, or in the crunched beer can in the back of the truck, or if they find the little bit of fern you tucked inside your old dirty socks...and then later as you drive away laughing but still really paranoid that they bugged the truck ancould be listening...... or if they do catch you enduring the lecture and watching them dump your goods into the trash:( knowing the bastards dig it out and take it home later.

[_Keith]

Keith thats only in the movies.

much Less romantic in real life....sitting on the stainless steel tables wondering if they have brainscanning equip yet, watching them toss your vehicle and hoping like hell they dont look in the half eaten bag of doritos on the floor, or in the crunched beer can in the back of the truck, or if they find the little bit of fern you tucked inside your old dirty socks...and then later as you drive away laughing but still really paranoid that they bugged the truck ancould be listening...... or if they do catch you enduring the lecture and watching them dump your goods into the trash:( knowing the bastards dig it out and take it home later.

Miami Vice. Was humming a little Glenn Frey while I was writing it.

[Cycadcenter]

Just curious, are my small seed orders that I get from RPS technically illegal under US ag import rules? I have never had a problem.

Yes, it is illegal to import from an overseas country without a permit.

AQIS inspection stations are now run by Dept of Homeland Security to monitor any bio-terrorism threat to US agriculture. The Small Lots Seed Permit was enacted to allow plant enthusiests to import up to 50 seeds of any one genera with up to 50 genera in each packet, that's 2,500 seeds total.

It is so simple to get a free permit and have it enclosed in each packet of seed. Any seed without a permit which is intercepted is automatically destroyed.

Certainly better than a visit by Homeland Security.

Bruce

[Palm Guy]

I think most palm seeds would perish during the long process.

Tom, I agree with you, but its better than not getting them at all! I wonder how they quarantine the seeds?

Are they not accountable and have to follow guidelines and legislation that all can view. I thought AQIS was bad, but at least they contact you in a timely manner with a reason, a contact person and the ability to send it all back to the sender for a $40 fee. It seems like the US customs follow the same rules as the CIA. "It never happened-we can't comment" devil.gif rage.gif

I feel your pain. But what can you do I suppose. beat_deadhorse.gif

Best regards

Tyrone

Tyrone, I just got a letter dated April 22 TODAY! They were obviously not in a rush to notify me... A real pain in the arrrrggghhh. I will be contacting the sender tomorrow to give a piece of my mind. Hopefully, the seeds haven't been incinerated.

What we need in this palm seed business is a member of the IPS who's a pilot, preferably with a small plane and is willing to fly in anywhere on the globe dropping off palm seed and ranch hands, Colombia drug deal style.

Wal, I'm all up for the Palm Express Jet. We'll have to find a pilot willing to defy all odds though...

[Walter John]

Keith thats only in the movies.

much Less romantic in real life....sitting on the stainless steel tables wondering if they have brainscanning equip yet, watching them toss your vehicle and hoping like hell they dont look in the half eaten bag of doritos on the floor, or in the crunched beer can in the back of the truck, or if they find the little bit of fern you tucked inside your old dirty socks...and then later as you drive away laughing but still really paranoid that they bugged the truck ancould be listening...... or if they do catch you enduring the lecture and watching them dump your goods into the trash:( knowing the bastards dig it out and take it home later.

Miami Vice. Was humming a little Glenn Frey while I was writing it.

Sounded fine to me Keef, why spoil a good story with facts ?

[Tyrone]

In Oz, they can only legally incinerate your confiscated seeds if, you have not contacted them after 40 days of the letter being sent, or if you give them permission to do so. Other than that they are duty bound to look after your seeds in a responsible manner, and so they should, as they will be in a bonded security storage area. I asked an AQIS officer whether they can just incinerate your seed without telling you and they said "No". So I thought I'd never say this, but well down Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. At least I know where I stand with the rare palm seeds I import. If it all goes pear shaped, I can re-export the seeds back to the sender anyway.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Kris]

Iam very sorry to hear all your bitter experiences....but all wise,literate goverments of the world are trying to eridicate the migration of unwanted pests from certain regions of the world...comming unchecked into their lands !

but in most cases i can see the authorities trying to totally misuse these powers,inorder to save their time...but they do not know that healthy fresh seeds kept in isolation or even destroying means less of an oppurtunities given to new variety of plants....I think to solve this kind of stand-off ! Govt.should employ botanist and able clinical assistant in the screening section of the coustoms dept.And all imports should be addressed to that perticular area,say for U.S.A the center could be in miami or L.A all the parcels must go directly to that point from where if the consignement is found to legitamitaly good,then notify the person to whom it has to be delievred asking him to pay for the lab testing & the redirecting or re postal charges !

by doing the above this perticular facility will have both the man power and testing facility..where govt NGO's rule the descion rather than coustom officials ?

And i must say iam lucky to be born in india.since the goverment does not interfear in seeds import & export.and few here are also importing live-stock,plants,horses,dogs...domesticated animals ! And that is one reason when some friends keep sending seeds to me,i do not say no...since when our guys will bring blanket ban on seeds movement,i do not know !

only once i was called to the local post office on the instance of the central-excise,just to know,how i do the payment or mode of my import !

when i told them they are all gifts from my internet friends they were surprised..since they thought i was using a international credit card for my online purschase...since in our country only exporters are permitted to import comodities using the foregin exchange reserves or through Credit cards..

love,

Kris

[Trópico]

I have ordered seeds from RPS and ebay.

I have harvested seeds and live plants in Puerto Rico and Colombia and brought them into the country.

So far, no problems

[Wai`anae Steve]

I have ordered seeds from RPS and ebay.

I have harvested seeds and live plants in Puerto Rico and Colombia and brought them into the country.

So far, no problems

Bringing seeds back to the US in no problem. Just carry on your person, in your pants pocket and they will never know.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

So how do you guys know the seeds were confiscated? Do you get a note from customs?

Luckily, I have yet to have this happen...

[Palm Guy]

So how do you guys know the seeds were confiscated? Do you get a note from customs? huh.gif

Luckily, I have yet to have this happen...

Will,

They gave me a letter explaining what was confiscated (scientific names) and why they were confiscated. I called Ortanique and they had advised me that since I ordered germinated seed, there was soil in the package. So I think thats what did me in. I never ordered germinated seed before so I didnt know what to expect.

[Palm Guy]

Good news guys! A non related order from RPS has come in today!! . Maybe the situation is not soo bleak!!

[Mark_NoVA]

Mine wasn't germinated seed. I got a letter from customs, after a long delay.

So how do you guys know the seeds were confiscated? Do you get a note from customs? huh.gif

Luckily, I have yet to have this happen...

Will,

They gave me a letter explaining what was confiscated (scientific names) and why they were confiscated. I called Ortanique and they had advised me that since I ordered germinated seed, there was soil in the package. So I think thats what did me in. I never ordered germinated seed before so I didnt know what to expect.

[malcthomas]

Mike..

I think most countries have similar restrictions on the importation of bare rooted, soil grown plants for obvious bio security reasons. Some countries won't even allow sprouted seed in let alone rooted seedlings.

Not that many years ago, we could import seed from the USA and Australia without phytosanitary certificates and trading in palm seed was easy and fun. These certificates are now required from all countries and have to be provided by the supplier...and with inspection fees and other compliance costs it is becoming costly and too much of a hassel to import seed anymore...I now leave that up the the Palm Society seed bank.

It would pay to check with your Department of Agriculture to find out what your importation requiriements are. It may be as simple as, if the palm species does not feature on some index of illegal plants or endangered species (CITES), and the seed is free from insects and fungus, its allowed in. To avoid any entry hold ups, make sure your supplier sends you cleaned and properly labelled seed that have been treated with insecticide and fungicide.

I know how you feel about the importation of husked coconuts...we have that double standard here as well. You can bet that they are not being called "palm seed" on the import permits, rather as "plant product" to fulful some UN trade obligation to developing countries.

regards...Malcolm

[malcthomas]

Mike..

I think most countries have similar restrictions on the importation of bare rooted, soil grown plants for obvious bio security reasons. Some countries won't even allow sprouted seed in let alone rooted seedlings.

Not that many years ago, we could import seed from the USA and Australia without phytosanitary certificates and trading in palm seed was easy and fun. These certificates are now required from all countries and have to be provided by the supplier...and with inspection fees and other compliance costs it is becoming costly and too much of a hassel to import seed anymore...I now leave that up the the Palm Society seed bank.

It would pay to check with your Department of Agriculture to find out what your importation requiriements are. It may be as simple as, if the palm species does not feature on some index of illegal plants or endangered species (CITES), and the seed is free from insects and fungus, its allowed in. To avoid any entry hold ups, make sure your supplier sends you cleaned and properly labelled seed that have been treated with insecticide and fungicide.

I know how you feel about the importation of husked coconuts...we have that double standard here as well. You can bet that they are not being called "palm seed" on the import permits, rather as "plant product" to fulful some UN trade obligation to developing countries.

regards...Malcolm

[simona]

I never had "confiscation" problems but postal delay: got the seeds once after 7 months! - thought thy where lost for ever....

[Gaston in Argentina]

Here in Argentina, many times were returned seeds boxes to sender, when are without its phytocertificate.-