Re: [aroid-l] Permits- THANKS!

Even when bringing in the plants as personal luggage, if you do have a lot of 
plants, they have to be transported to the Agriculture Dept. by a bonded 
company. Ag is usually away from the airport.  I have used brokers, even kindly 
airline employees, and at least twice, Ag inspectors themselves (but this is not 
the norm).  I've done 16 collection trips and I can honestly tell you that 
getting plants inspected is always different.  While there no doubt are federal 
guidelines, Miami, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are all on 
different pages.

Sometimes the airlines will want you to declare the plants with them and then 
they transport them to Ag.  Other times, Ag inspectors will have you contact 
a broker;  this is what usually happens.

I've not been on a collection trip since the mandatory Phytosanitary 
Certificates are required (2002).  This is a new wrinkle in what has always been a 
mysterious process -- but one that can be gotten through by having a pleasant 
disposition and an Ag agent who did not wake up on the wrong side of the bed. 
There are stories to tell, but I'm afraid this missive would be entirely too 
long.

Reggie Whitehead
South Miami, FL
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index