[MR] Re: seeds--kinda long

[garadh at starpower.net]

Maybe this will help in the discussion concerning seeds 
brought into the Country.

Visit the “Plants Database” http://plants.usda.gov/  This site 
was created by the USDA.  This is a very good site to look 
up various plant materials for the home gardener, novice or 
expert.

They have a very good list of invasive plant species to avoid 
and which ones against the law to bring into your state.  And 
no where did I find any “killer cucumber” on any list of 
invasive plant species to avoid.

-- 
This is from www.Naturalhub.com website concerning 
importation of plants.

The USDA APHIS controls the entry of seeds and plants, 
etc… at the border.  The nearest I can see to actual 
information on seeds is this- 
  
"Seeds (Seeds of flowers and vegetables are generally 
enterable. Seeds of woody trees and shrubs require a nursery 
stock permit from PPQ.)" from yet another PDF file on this 
page http://www.aphis.usda.gov/travel/bring.html  You could 
thrash around this page 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/new/pe.html, but specific 
information on the rules for importing seed, or where to get a 
permit for seed of 'woody trees and shrubs' is not obvious.
-- 
This is the actual website that will take you to where the 
paragraph above is written:
http://www.naturalhub.com/grow_food_helpful_products_and_
people_internat_mailorder.htm#Seed%20Importation%
20Rules

--
USDA Rules and Regulations on plant material:  As usual, 
you can find the Government regulations are clear as mud.  
This information on importing plant material generally 
applies to the plant industry, not so much to the average 
person who has a pocket of seeds to bring home from a trip.

Here are a couple more sites you might want to take a look 
at:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/permits/plantproducts/nurser
y.html

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/

I hope this will help those who are concerned about the 
importation of plant material.  In general, seeds are usually 
allowed.  Every Country is different in their laws.  Importing 
plants and plants with soil is a whole different set of laws.  
Plants imported into this country generally must come bare 
rooted.  All plants are either quarantined or meet quarantine 
guidelines before they are shipped.  Plants potted in soil are 
where you will find imported fungus, disease, and pest 
problems.  Most of the diseases are transported through the 
soil, not the plant (there are exceptions to every rule).  Some 
of the imported raw materials, i.e. packing crates can carry 
diseases that are harmful to native plants.  But that is 
another story.  For the most part, seeds are generally safe to 
transport from one country to another.

I hope this clears up any questions, concerns on bringing 
seeds into this country.   It is always best to check with the 
USDA, and the country you are visiting before you bring 
something back.

I am very sorry this is so long, but I hope the information is 
helpful.

Cairistiona de Coveran