What’s required by customs Australia to import seeds

[happypalms]

23 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I think there was an episode of Rick and Morty where Morty just hid some seeds in the old prison pocket to get through customs, but that could be uncomfortable on a long flight. Especially if you're importing coconuts. 

Imagine a coco de mer seed!

[happypalms]

On 7/30/2025 at 9:26 AM, sgvcns said:

My motivation in directly importing seeds was to speed up the time frame. These seeds were at my home soaking within 4 weeks of collection. Will make all the difference to things like Pinanga mirabilis. 

My feeling is dealing with AQIS staff is the difference. Postal staff are a different story. Seeds can obviously be missed coming in but over time AI systems will make that less likely. 

I'll be doing the same on my next trip in 3 weeks. Vietnam. Fingers crossed for Lanonia manglaensis...

That’s the killer literally with seeds the delays involved postage and customs, on top of company delivery delays in sending orders out! The best I have had is 4 weeks from sending freshly picked seeds. And that was with the wrong address and phone number, after realising the seller mistake I was onto customs the day it landed in the country, an email sent at 7 in the morning and a reply at 7.10 in the morning from customs with all the details corrected in the postal details, and seeds booked for nursery stock inspection for the following Wednesday, then the seeds arrived by the next Tuesday. All I know is be nice to customs! Miracles did happen, so lucky for that one to get through from Indonesia and yes with pinanga in there! 

[WagnerMX]

You remember this story?

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-08/irreplaceable-plant-specimens-destroyed-by-biosecurity-officers/8504944

[Jonathan Haycock]

16 hours ago, happypalms said:

That’s the killer literally with seeds the delays involved postage and customs, on top of company delivery delays in sending orders out! The best I have had is 4 weeks from sending freshly picked seeds. And that was with the wrong address and phone number, after realising the seller mistake I was onto customs the day it landed in the country, an email sent at 7 in the morning and a reply at 7.10 in the morning from customs with all the details corrected in the postal details, and seeds booked for nursery stock inspection for the following Wednesday, then the seeds arrived by the next Tuesday. All I know is be nice to customs!

I’d second that sentiment. Biosecurity officers will help you if approached correctly and with patience. I’ve imported countless seed packages into Australia since 2019 and despite a few cock ups along the way, they’ve always arrived, eventually. 

Personally I think the current level of biosecurity (however costly, time consuming, and frustrating) is a price worth paying for keeping nasty pests (like CRB and RPW) out of Australia. 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Haycock said:

I’d second that sentiment. Biosecurity officers will help you if approached correctly and with patience. I’ve imported countless seed packages into Australia since 2019 and despite a few cock ups along the way, they’ve always arrived, eventually. 

Personally I think the current level of biosecurity (however costly, time consuming, and frustrating) is a price worth paying for keeping nasty pests (like CRB and RPW) out of Australia. 

Yes I agree, it’s not customs fault if the seeds don’t germinate. As I said you look at how long it takes a seed that has been wild or garden collected to get to company that ships seeds legally, with all sorts of logistics then by the time they send your order out. Each day that little living cell is dying unfortunately and with a lot of collectors wanting rare exotics not kentia or Bangalow seeds where talking about, it’s seeds that have short shelf life regardless of how long it takes to get to you. Pinanga Areca sp just a couple to mention.