I bought 3 or 4 packs of T&M seeds in the UK when I was there, and decided at the last minute not to bring them home - didn't want a hassle at customs. I did, however, ask when I arrived if it would have been a problem. The answer? "It depends". I guess some seeds are ok, others aren't - the customs official said they would have had to check them if I'd brought them.

Seems to me there used to be a rule associated with the Main Exchange in that trades were restricted to the U.S. I think that is what spawned the Canadian exchange, etc. If you are uncomfortable saying no, check and see if that rule still exists

Perhaps things have changed since I have last traded internationally, but it is my understanding that you can swap seeds. Just make sure the seeds are properly labeled with their botanical name in case they are checked. Postal employees have the right to check if there is anything suspicious, but as long as they are not on their restriced list, it is ok. Plant trades are restricted to the US, but not seeds. Of course, it has been a while since I checked, but I recently had a couple of swaps with Canadians with no problems.

My thought was not that the U.S. would care where in the world our seeds are sent, so much as the country where they are being sent.

Does anyone know how I might check this?

Karen

These are the rules for the main Seed Exchange. Whether you follow them is up to you, but if you are uncomfortable with sending seeds internationally (and I am), you can not be faulted for sticking to the guidelines.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Exchange Rules

Thanks for the link, bakemom. I never knew that existed on GardenWeb.

Karen

Now, whether you do PRIVATE exchanges is totally up to you. I had a person in Asia get very annoyed with me because I would not send a newbie seed pack to a country I knew nothing about. The rule was my excuse, and probably for a good reason. That being said, I have sent stuff to other countries here and there, but not as a rule and I don't like to do it. I have sent stuff to my buds in Canada privately, but not through GW.

Karen, if you DO send seeds internationally, Nancy is right - if you properly label them, and you fill out a customs declaration form at the post office, the worst that will happen is that they might get confiscated by customs on the other end.

I was worried about this myself, being unclear about the customs issues, but I recently had my mother (in the US) send me a large collection of seeds in a big bubble envelope and they came in the mail just fine.

When you send something other than a letter from the US (bubble envelope, package, etc.), you have to fill out a little customs form that they stick to the front of the packet... it's nothing detailed or fancy, you just declare briefly and in general terms what the contents of the package is. My ma labeled the package's contents as simply "garden seeds", and there was absolutely no problem.

I think you shouldn't be finding any trouble with sending seeds to the UK, or most anywhere in Europe for that matter. You can always look up mailing restrictions on the usps website, and I've included a page from which you can see the UK's specific restrictions... just scroll down near the bottom (the list is alphabetic). Hope this helps.

Here is a link that might be useful: International shipping restrictions

I purchased and was mailed palm tree seeds (Washingtonia, simple as that, plenty of these grow here on the island) by two different ebay sellers in the USA and I am in the Azores (Portugal). Both shipments were confiscated and I was given two options: the government destroys them or returns the seeds to the sender. One of the sellers now has blocked Portugal from sending seeds to.

Now I went to the FEDEX page (for a lack of other quick info resources):

https://smallbusiness.fedex.com/international/country-snapshots/portugal.html#C04

I see on that internet page that vegetable seeds and plant material is not allowed into Portugal, where plant material is not seeds, otherwise it would mention that plant material includes tree seeds. No mention of palm seeds or tree seeds. Do you think the local agricultural department with the Customs are unfair? I know they are trying to protect the environment of the islands, but these palms are planted and grow here, it just there is no source to buy their seeds. So how come they confiscate seeds of trees that are already here?