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hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL> Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
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From: Adam Fikso <irisman at AMERITECH.NET>
Subject: Re: importing seeds and plants
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Well said, Barry.  You left out only the likelihood that anyone who has h=ad
seeds confiscated-- may well now have  his or her name on a "watch list"
Hopefully they will not put it on a "no fly" list , which has happened to=a
few others sometimes just because of a name similarity.

The computer age makes all kinds of constraints, restrictions and
punishments possible. Sometimes a mild paranoia is healthy.  Be warned.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Barry Yinger" <asiatica at NNI.COM>
To: <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 12:17 PM
Subject: importing seeds and plants


> The decision by the USDA to enforce long-standing requirements that  al=l
> plants and propagules, including seeds, require a phytosanitary
> certificate and government inspection for importation is only the  firs=t
> step in making the importation process more difficult. The  driving for=ces
> for this tougher approach are lobbying by groups  concerned about the
> introduction of invasive species, and of course,  9-11, the generic rea=son
> for all government actions that are certain  to annoy American citizens
> while having little or no effect on the  ability of psychos to commit m=ass
> murder.
>
> The various strategies described in this on-line discussion have in
> common that they are illegal, and that they succeed simply because  the=re
> is no efficient process in place for checking all or even very  many
> packages that come into the US. The USDA is very aware of the  various
> strategies used to "fly under the radar", or as they would  describe it=,
> smuggle plants. (By the way, they do monitor discussions  such as the o=ne
> we are having now).
>
> Recently the penalties for plant smuggling were increased, and no  long=er
> amount to a slap on the wrist. In the past, the worst that  could happe=n
> was that the plants or seeds would be destroyed. There  are now very
> substantial fines in place, and provision for prison  time. USDA says t=hat
> they are eager to make examples of those who  break the law to try to
> reduce the flood of plants that come in  without inspection.
>
> As for CITES plants, there have already been some draconian  enforcemen=t
> actions. A man in Florida was imprisoned for bringing in  an orchid fro=m
> South America without a permit, and the Marie Shelby  Botanical Garden,
> who received the plant from him, paid a $5000 fine,  One of the garden'=s
> employees faces criminal charges.
>
> Plant inspection "services" have been moved from USDA to the  Departmen=t
> of Homeland Security. You can imagine the impact of that  move on the
> efficiency and effectiveness of the process. For those of  us who impor=t a
> great many plants legally, every day is the day after  Katrina.
>
> There is a plan to screen all packages coming into the US using  imagin=g
> technology backed up by computers programmed to kick out  packages with
> contents fitting certain profiles. You can be sure that  plants, bulbs,
> and seeds will be profiled. The only thing holding  this back is a lack=of
> funding, so our one small hope is the the Bush  administration complete=s
> the job of bankrupting the country before  funding becomes available.
>
> I wish that I could say something hopeful about the future of plant
> importation, but I think we are doomed.
>
> Barry Yinger
> nurseryman and gardener
>