seeds for US gardeners, forwarded material

on 8/29/01 8:24 PM, Tony Avent at tony@PLANTDEL.COM wrote:
> Based on a phone call today, it is my understanding that USDA Aphis has
> put on hold until January 1, new enforcement of the existing regulation
> that will require phytosanitary certificates for all plant and seed
> shipments entering the US.

If this is in fact true, it will at least allow seed to flow freely in time
for the seed exchanges this year.

However, for those of us with (foreign) seedhouses, January is the beginning
of peak season and may effectively indicate an end to my (our) business in
the USA. It is likely that only my largest nursery customers would be
willing to pay the extra costs of a phyto, and the administrative hassle of
what may be involved will surely deter all but the keenest growers. It also
puts a serious damper on the personal exchange of seed I now enjoy with many
of my friends south of the border.

I have yet to hear back from my Canadian customs/immigration agent as to
what all of this may involve at my end. However, as one who is already
sorely over-burdened with the multitude of practical and administrative
considerations involved with running my business, I do not relish the
thought of trying to find yet another hour each day dealing with paperwork
when I could be eating, sleeping, seeing my children....
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I have quoted the the above message from the Alpine List.  All gardened 
should know that the US Govt. is about to regulate by phyosanitary 
certificate the the entry of small amounts of foreign seed into the the US.  
Disease is not the reason.  Obnoxious weed (briefly) seems to be the reason.  
The Phyto cert. cost and cumbersome process will probably end seed seed 
exhanges as we now know them.

We have in the past few decades have had the luxury of many genera as seeds 
have become generally more available to American gardeners.  This change in 
policy will see a return to fewer plants, seed grown, and fewer seeds to the 
American gardener.  

Writing to your senators may help find a way allow the flow of horticultural 
diversity to continue legally.  The rule was to have taken place immediately 
but is now extended to Jan. 01 for seedex seeds to complete their annual 
exchanges.

This will affect all gardeners in all zones in the US.

Claire Peplowski
NYS z4

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