No, you don't need any permit if you don't by that many.
I ordered over 2000 seeds from ThaiLand for a nursery and many smaller orders for the same address and they all got here okay.
Now, if you order plants, only 10 come to each address. Over 10 plants you need to request an import permit. So the seller send 10 plants every weeks and they okay with that.
marie

I think you do, sort of (see link).

Here is a link that might be useful: APHIS

So if it comes with a phytosanitary certificate then it's okay? That's how I read that 1st paragraph. I was just curious; I'm going to order some domestic seeds before I start importing them ;-)

Or I have a couple Echinopsis hybrids ready to bloom so maybe I'll get my own seed. At least it's free and it will be fun learning something new.

I have never been successful with seeds yet. Don't have too much problem sprouting them, but they don't seem to grow very much after that so I'm not doing something right (maybe not enough heat/light). I have an extra reptile pad for my box turtles, would that be too much bottom heat?
Or do they only need bottom heat to sprout?

When I have to start working long hours I'm going to take them to work. I have one of those intelligent lights so I'm thinking that would be good for them. I don't think it's enough light for full grown cacti, but it may work for the seedlings.

Unless the laws have changed in the last year or so, and I doubt they have, permits are required for "any" plant imported into the US. Pyhtos are ok for seed.

If you are buying plants outside the US and not using a permit, you are doing a no no. You can have your plant confiscated and or worse depending on how grumpy the inspector feels.

I forget to mention that all my orders came with phytosanitary certificate.

Randy is right, you need an import permit for plants.....Period!! If the guy supplies a phyto and they get inspected you may be OK, but you will get a letter telling you to obey the law I would suspect. If you are doing seed legally you need a seed import permit as well which is also free and easy to get so why not just get it, send it via e-mail to the exporter and make it all legal? I think that the inspectors should just watch ebay and then pay a visit to the importers house and ask to see the phyto....if they do not have one for the plant they just purchased hand them the $1,000 fine and be done with it. Doing this a few times would solve all the stuff coming in from Thailand, Hungary, etc. illegally in a big hurry :o) Dan

I think y'all are making this more difficult than it has to be.

From the USDA site: "Lots of seed may be imported without a phytosanitary certificate under the following conditions:..."

-R

I order seeds from thailand all the time and they come without any problems. I usually order 500 seeds at once, so like 5 small packets each 100 seeds. Been doing it for years, no problems.

The fact that they come in no problem does not mean you are doing it correctly is all I am saying....

No one implied you need a phyto for a seed order...in fact you do not want to have to pay for a phyto for seed....what you need is a seed import permit. Most things never get inspected when they come through customs so there is a very tiny chance you will ever get caught......but I talked to a USDA inspector personally and I can tell you they do look at ebay especially when it comes to the people sending bonsai to the US illegally because of the obvious problems with bugs in the bark.

Why not fill out the seed import permit which takes maybe 5 minutes and do it on the up-and-up rather than just getting away with it :o) Dan

International sellers usually take care of phyto. When I order seeds, I order a lot (from Thailand) and they always include phyto sanitary certificate for free. Buyer doesn't have to deal with this at all.

I just received over 5000 seeds from 3 sellers in Thailand for a nursery this week. Total over $400 (seeds from King Adenium were the most expensive, 10 seeds per order and cost up to $15.99 but all of these are double, triple and quatro.
One package got inspected, and came with a note telling me they did inspected. Nothing was missing.
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