Re: Fw: USDA regulation (seed phytos)

From: "Marge Talt" mtalt at hort.net> on 2002.08.01 at 14:11:31(9159) > From: SelbyHort@aol.com Can they obtain a "blanket" phyto for the entire seed batch or for all their +More available seeds, or must they obtain phyto for each individual shipment? Donna ---------- Donna, Leo is right. Each shipment, whether it's one packet of 2 seeds or 1000 packages of seeds has to have a phyto. Seed shippers who have the contacts in the US are pooling orders for distribution here; those who don't have such contacts are out of luck. Phytos are not free, either, in terms of cash cost and time filling out paperwork. In addition to seed exchange problems and small seed supplier problems those who are part of our current intrepid group of plant explorers have problems because some countries are simply not set up to provide phytos, period. Therefore, one cannot hunt plants there and legally ship the seed to the US, which leaves us all the poorer in potential new introductions for our gardens. As has been observed on other lists, this regulation simply invites law breaking to get around it. Unfortunately, the penalties if caught are high. Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland mtalt@hort.net Editor: Gardening in Shade ----------------------------------------------- Current Article: Planting Basics: Soil http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/shade_gardening ------------------------------------------------ Complete Index of Articles by Category and Date http://mtalt.hort.net/article-index.html ------------------------------------------------ All Suite101.com garden topics : http://www.suite101.com/topics.cfm/635

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