Re: Seed swaps

**Barry Webb barry@erutan.clara.co.uk>**

At 01:55 PM 4/25/02 -0500, you wrote:
>>Thank you, Carlo. It scorches me, though. Canadian seed companies lose a
>>market, and U.S. citizens lose many seed sources.  Margaret L
>
>It's actually worse than all that. I've traded seed with people around the
>world for years--and won't be able to do it anymore. No one sending a small
>amount of seed will go through the bother and expense (far exceeding the
>value of the seed) of applying for a phyto. Efforts are already underway
>(even as opposition to the new policy is expressed) in some circles to
>bundle seed orders so that a group can get things in on one certificate.
>
There is a good argument for banning the easy import/export of seed between
countries which has been allowed to go on in the past. New Zealand has very
strict rules about what may be imported because it prevents the
introduction of potential troubles. The old-fashioned plant collectors
introduced many attractive and interesting plants which have become thugs
and bullies in their new homes. In the UK one such is Japanese Knotweed and
that is now a rampant and troublesome, very difficult, if not impossible,
to erase weed. 
Barry Webb
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