Importing seeds
Importing seed has various regulations that differ from country to country.
We have provided as much information as possible to make the process not only legal for our customers but also as easy as possible. Please be sure to read the following pieces of information before placing your order: Import Regulations, Information links and sites, Terms and Conditions, Postage and Shipping
Most jurisdictions classify seeds as regulated products. There are numerous
restrictions governing their export and import, and it is up to the clients to familiarise
themselves with the regulations in their own nations before importing.
Many countries require a phytosanitary certificate (phyto) before a seed shipment
can cross their borders. Our agricultural inspectors provide the phyto, which
accompanies a shipment of seeds, to certify that it is free of hazardous organisms
such as insects, fungus, etc.
Depending on the location, a phyto is required, optional, or not. During the checkout
process, the choice that best matches your shipping address is automatically
displayed. Some nations demand an import authorization from your department of
agriculture before issuing a phyto. Phytosanitary certificates are not required in the
European Union or in a number of other European countries. Customers must check
their department of agriculture’s website for import rules before placing an order. We
are not liable for shipments that are confiscated because they contain seeds that are
illegal to import or are not accompanied by the necessary documents. The IPPC
nation list, which is linked below, will provide you with the essential links to your
country’s phytosanitary organization.
https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/all/list-countries/
United States of America
All seeds must be accompanied by a certificate, unless you have a small lot permit
(seeds in tiny amounts or of low weight). More information can be found here.
https://www.ippc.int/en/countries/united-states-of-america/
All tree and shrub seeds require import permission (PPQ 587), and we need your
permit to issue a Phyto, or a letter from USDA confirming that you do not require a
permit (they may send you one of these in response to a permit application if they
determine that a permit is not required). You can apply for a permit online or by mail
here.
- List each genus (the first part of the botanical name) of plant/seed you wish to
import separately - Label the country of origin
- Check the box “Plants for planting” & “Small lots of seeds” for up to 50 seeds or up
to an ounce per species. - There is no charge for USDA import permits.
E-mail your permit and shipping labels to mail@seedsyndicate.net with your order
number and attach permits and labels.
We deliver hundreds of shipments to the United States each month. We are not
liable for shipments that are confiscated because they contain seeds that are illegal
to import or are not accompanied by the necessary documents.
Many plants are listed in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES.
While the seeds of most appendix II and III plants are exempt and can be traded
freely, appendix I plants and their seeds generally require permits. We only ship
these seeds within the European Union, where our invoice serves as proof of legal
purchase. These seeds are marked “EU ONLY”. Due to the time-consuming
application process, we are unable to provide permits for the export of these
species. This page provides detailed information on any species listed on CITES
appendices.