| Author | Message | ||
     Paul F. Zimmerman (Pfzimmerman) Powdery Mildew Username: pfzimmerman Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2006 |
Hi Anne, Agreed it isn't always a disaster and I'm glad yours worked out so well and continues to do so. By and large ours work out very well and we've had little problems. | ||
| Anne Belovich (Anne) Bug Squisher Username: Anne Post Number: 43 Registered: 01-2006 |
Here's a little update. My package of roses arrived from France yesterday, just a week after it was shipped. It started with Colissima International, entered the port of New York where it went through customs, and then switched to DHL. The package was delivered to my home instead of the USDA Plant Inspection Station in Seattle so I made out a shipping form right on the spot while the driver played with the dogs and today it arrived at the inspection station. I know because I got a call from them telling me that there was an extra plant in the package that was not listed on the phyto, and since it was nothing I wanted--just a mistake, we agreed that they could destroy it. The process can be complicated but it isn't always the disaster that you may fear. | ||
| Paul F. Zimmerman (Pfzimmerman) Powdery Mildew Username: PFZimmerman Post Number: 11 Registered: 06-2006 |
Hi Anne, Please excuse my very tardy answer but spring has sprung in the nursery business down here and suddenly my days are much shorter. To answer your questions. Customs is indeed USDA customs. Sorry about the confusion. I found the money the agent saves us in having to hire a private shipping company like DHL makes their fees affordable. However in your case your port of entry (Seattle) works well for you so if I were in your shoes I wouldn’t do anything differently. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Our mailing port of entry is New York and they have been quite good, but mishaps have occurred. Our import permit allows us to use Orlando or Miami if they are met by someone – either us or an agent. Our agent is in Orlando so she simply meets the plane, gets them through USDA customs and sends them on to us. Where she has been invaluable is in the case of someone sending us roses who are not familiar with the process. For example Fabien Ducher is sending us roses this week. Our agent has a contact in France who contacted Fabien and is arranging everything in France for him. It is for those kinds of things where an agent is invaluable. I completely agree with having forms translated. The vast majority of my Family all live in Holland and speak fluent English. But sometimes “technical or legal” English throws them a bit as does American slang during a conversation or letter. That and because I feel it’s courteous to use an interpreter is why we do so. I have someone I know who I met on travels in France who translates for me at very reasonable rates. That plus a good dinner when I’m in Lyon! Fed Ex does not insure plants and they might no longer carry them. UPS to my knowledge does carry plants. The large commercial shipper I’ve had the most success with is DHL. The Beales family uses Parcel Force out of the UK when they send to us and it goes like clockwork. I do not know Colissimo International. Our agent currently makes arrangements via standard commercial flights. I hope that helps. Josée, I second Steven. What a kind offer and hopefully someone will take you up on it. | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 829 Registered: 01-2006 |
that is a very generous offer and a welcome contribution!! thank you, stephen | ||
| Josée Brisson (Pipette) Bug Squisher Username: pipette Post Number: 14 Registered: 12-2005 |
If anyone wishes to get a french translation of such documents to put on this web site, I am willing to do the translation. I am not a pro, but I can sure do a better job than those horrible web sites... It would be my small contribution to this forum, which I learn so much from, although I rarely put messages up, being such a novice it is a little embarasssing... | ||
| Anne Belovich (Anne) Bug Squisher Username: Anne Post Number: 42 Registered: 01-2006 |
Paul, some questions. When you say customs, do you mean the USDA plant inspection station? I don't know how much it costs to hire an agent and an interpreter. Is it within the average person's means? Instead of hiring an interpreter, unless you're rich, try www.freetranslation.com . It does a quick and dirty job of translating and can cause you to say some funny things , but if you stick to simple sentences and avoid idioms, it isn't bad. I think it would be a good idea to have some people who speak French and German make up some forms that would explain how to comply with our import regulations and maybe some other things. A good start would be to translate the English instructions on the back of the green and yellow USDA address labels that are supposed to be placed on the outside of the package of roses when it is mailed. They could be made available to anyone who needed them. Do you have any suggestions for what shipping company to ask for in Europe? I have been told recently by two European nurseries that neither FedEx nor UPS will carry live plants. I haven't called those companies here to enquire about that rule but I'll do so today. Louberts just informed me that they were sending a small shipment by Colissimo International. I've never heard of it before and keep forgetting the name. I can only think of Godzilla until I go and look it up again. I have a tracking number but how do I go about tracking it? | ||
| Monique Mixon (Pecanmom66) Powdery Mildew Username: pecanmom66 Post Number: 28 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thank you so much everyone for putting so much information out there. I agree with Stephen that we need a catagory for this topic, just so we novices can keep up with the ever changing laws and regulations. | ||
| Paul F. Zimmerman (Pfzimmerman) Powdery Mildew Username: PFZimmerman Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2006 |
I have some experience with this and if you prepare it's not so bad. We have started using an agent out of Orlando (a port of entry for us) and it is making all the difference. Essentially the roses are put on any flight to Orlando and our agent meets them and walks them through customs. She has our DHL number and they come right to us. This has worked great for European Countries outside of England. From the Beales folks they use ParcelForce with great success. We just had 42 new Delbard Varieties delivered via Orlando and they sailed through. Some tricks we have learned. Unless the nursery sending the plants has extensive experience with this sort of thing handle everything from your end including arranging the pickup of the package. Send very clear instructions as to what paperwork goes where and how. And use an interpreter if need be. We have a French interpreter who does our business there for us. Put a notice with pieces of string in each box saying. "Dear inspector. Please reseal the bag tightly using the string provided after your inspection" Track the package from the moment it leaves the nursery. When you see it arrive at your port of entry call them and let them know about it. Ask if you can arrange delivery on from there for them if they need it. (unless you have an agent, then they do it) That's it really. Just make sure you follow the roses daily and be aware of were they are. | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 805 Registered: 01-2006 |
thanks Suzy, are you buried in snow up there? | ||
| Suzy Verrier (Suzy_verrier) Bug Squisher Username: Suzy_verrier Post Number: 21 Registered: 02-2006 |
Stephen, Um, I think Newark , but it was so-o-o painfull - I can look it up if need be. I think a spot on this website would be very helpful . Importing now is a "leap of faith" and more or less a lottery. | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 804 Registered: 01-2006 |
I wonder, if maybe we could create a spot on this website with an up-to-date info on importing/exporting? | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 803 Registered: 01-2006 |
Suzy, where do they come thru, Boston? | ||
| Suzy Verrier (Suzy_verrier) Bug Squisher Username: Suzy_verrier Post Number: 20 Registered: 02-2006 |
Anne, Ditto Stephen. Last import was from Germany and they finally did arrive, (after - I've now fogotten how many months due to my "mother rose, lets not go there",syndrome ) Most survived, because these are Latvian rugosas and very,very rugged. This import was by far the easiest of many over the past 25 years! | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 802 Registered: 01-2006 |
charmed, indeed! | ||
| Anne Belovich (Anne) Bug Squisher Username: Anne Post Number: 39 Registered: 01-2006 |
I must be leading a charmed life. I've been importing roses since about 1998 and have lost only one shipment out of about 15. I have never had to deal with customs in any way, maybe because I have never had shipments come by air freight. I have never had to do anything until the people at the inspection station in Seattle call me to say they have received and inspected my roses and I give them my FedEx account number so they can forward the package to me. Several times, the package has been delivered to my address instead of the inspection station. I'm a compulsory rule follower so I always forward the package to the inspector. A couple of times, the shipper has failed to include all the required information on the phytosanitariy certificates. This was solved by e-mailing the shipper and asking for a new phyto with all the information to be faxed to the inspection station. It's a good idea to call the station and ask for their fax number before you start importing. Stephen, you are right about roses being available in this country, but if we are going to try to conserve roses, shouldn't we be conserving roses from everywhere? In addition to importing and buying domestically, we should be trying to get the old roses from private gardens, where they are being conserved, into nurseries and other gardens. Dan Russo has been very generous in passing on some of the Walsh Roses that were unavailable until a few years ago. I'm sure there are other people out there who would be willing to share some of their rare treasures with us. This may be somewhat of a sacrifice for people since their sense of having a rare and wonderful posession will be diminished if it is shared and becomes commonplace. Perhaps the organization could formally recognize the heroes who give up their claims to fame. I will write up some detailed instructions for importing roses to add to Malcolm's and will e-mail them by request. I'll let you know when I'm ready and you can post your e-mail address or e-mail it to me. | ||
| Behcet Fenercioglu (Jedmar) Shovel Pruner Username: jedmar Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2006 |
We have not tried importing to Europe from Australia (yet). However, this might come. I understand there are a number of roses, OGR or otherwise, which have survived in Australia & New Zealand. Meanwhile we are reading books by Nancy Steen and Trevor Griffiths in preparation! | ||
| Pat Toolan (Pat_toolan) Shovel Pruner Username: Pat_toolan Post Number: 5 Registered: 01-2006 |
While we are talking exporting I will just say that on Monday I had experience with our Australian AQIS which is your APHID equivalent. I was posting iris species rhizomes to a someone in Kansas. Up front there was $80Aus for inspection, $30 Phyto and $30 Export Permit and $56 postage so that they should arrive Thursday the same week. I am supposed to be able to track it which I have not tried yet. I did make sure I wrote the recipients phone number over the parcel a few times. The recipient has to sign for the parcel as well. I will be interested to see how it fares. As to roses any countries with sudden oak are OUT of bounds now it seems. Plus no way can we in Australia send to the USA - roses have to go via other countries. | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 794 Registered: 01-2006 |
I spent a wonderful day in Savannah last week while stranded in the south due to storms in the Northeast. I wandered thru the old streets looking for roses. Great city, Didn't find any roses, but did find Uncle Buba's (??) Oyster house. | ||
| Monique Mixon (Pecanmom66) Powdery Mildew Username: pecanmom66 Post Number: 26 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thank you Stephen for the info. I live in south GA about 1 hour west of Savannah. I don't know if Savannah would be the port for me to use, I was just curious after being dazzled by Etienne. I understand due to past problems with diseases and pest (that is an understatment!!!) that we have to be cautious, and I think that the terrorist problem doesn't make it any easier. My business is pecans (growing, buying, shelling etc) and you wouldn't think that the terrorist laws that are being passed would effect us, but they do. Behcet, sounds like ya'll have it made!!! I would love to only pay $50.00 to get to receive some roses!! I bet we would have alot more in paperwork and charges. Thank ya'll again. | ||
| Behcet Fenercioglu (Jedmar) Powdery Mildew Username: jedmar Post Number: 50 Registered: 10-2006 |
Monique, it is much easier to import roses from USA to Europe. The nursery needs to get a phytosanitary certificate for the order (costs about $50) and then just mail the parcel. Travel time for my last two orders was 2 (two) days from the nursery to me in Switzerland. Great! | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 789 Registered: 01-2006 |
Hi Monique, sometimes the plants arrive in great shape, sometimes they don't. Most of the time, the condition of the plants is dependant on how long they sit at your port of entry. The timing depends on where you order from and the time of year. The nursery you order from will tell you when they can ship, and they usually tell you when they are shipping. Over the years, I've had great luck in ordering from Peter Beales. The delay takes place at Customs, your port of entry. I've had plants delayed for up to a month, and of course many of those arrived dead. Other times it can be a few days thru customs - it helps to acquaint yourself with the procedures at the port of entry you use, get to know the agents. There are restrictions in shipping out of the states, but I'm not familiar with those. When you apply for a permit, the paperwork will tell you which countries you can and can't order from. where in Georgia are you? | ||
| Monique Mixon (Pecanmom66) Powdery Mildew Username: pecanmom66 Post Number: 24 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thank you all so much for your help. It is so nice to know that we all have somewhere we can find the answers to the questions we have. I agree Stephen, that our country has a wonderful selection of beautiful roses, but that Etienne makes me want to go and purchase a ticket to fly to Europe. (By the way, I'm afraid of flying!! LOL) He is good at teasing us!!!!!! How long does it usually take to receive the roses?? I bet there are alot of dead plants at times, I haven't thought of that. Does Europe have the same type of limitations as we do about shipping roses from here?? Usually America is more strict about that, aren't we?? I don't know if I will try ordering overseas just yet, I think that as much trouble you have to go thru, it may be easier just to bide my time until Vintage or some of the others put it into commerce. Besides, it will take me some time to get the suports built for the ramblers anyway!! | ||
| ann peck (Anntn6b) Bug Squisher Username: anntn6b Post Number: 200 Registered: 01-2006 |
Something I discovered recently is that it's important to specify on your application which port the plants will come through. Once the application is approved, it can't be changed. My original application was for New York, and the disasters that others had were enough to make me wait. A second application will specify a port that is less busy, and possibly one within driving distance of here so I can go check. In Houston and New Orleans I dealt with import inspectors of things other than plants. A smile helped a lot. | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 788 Registered: 01-2006 |
PS: not a dumb question, at all!! It's good to review this procedure, especially when Etienne is teasing us!!!!!!! | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 787 Registered: 01-2006 |
You will also have to deal with the customs at a port of entry, perhaps this would be Atlanta's Airport. Often, many plants will die during their period of inspection at the airport. Our experience (at Brooklyn Botanic Garden) with plants coming through Kennedy Airport had been terrible until we were able to make contact with the agents. Often the plants would sit uncared for for a long time. There are so many wonderful plants to be found in our nurseries, I have decided (as a private citizen) that it's not worth the hassle to import. Besides, Vintage and others are importing interesting material. | ||
| Malcolm M Manners (Mmanners) Bug Squisher Username: Mmanners Post Number: 83 Registered: 10-2004 |
Monique, The quarantine period is 2 years, unless it has changed recently. You need to submit applications for a PPQ546 and PPQ587 available at the website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/permits/ppq_epermits.shtml Once you send off the 546, a State inspector will contact you about visiting your property and approving the site. Over the 2-year period, he/she must have access to the site any time, unannounced, for surprise visits. During that time, you can't move the plants, propagate from them, etc. Apparently some state inspectors are more lenient than others; ours is a real stickler, but a very nice guy. | ||
| Monique Mixon (Pecanmom66) Powdery Mildew Username: pecanmom66 Post Number: 16 Registered: 02-2007 |
This may be a dumb question to ask, but I was wondering how to go about ordering overseas. I know there is some paper work through the Ag Dept, but how much red tape is there?? I do know that there are certain countries, like Australia, that we cannot ship from and when we do get the roses, we have to keep them in quarantine for a year, correct??? My main question, I suppose, is what is the entire process and how do you go about getting it started?? Especially now with heightened security on everthing, I would guess that it is very hard to order overseas. |