Be aware of the closest or most convenient Port of Entry through which your plants will enter the United States, and where they will be inspected.

IF YOU ARE HAVING THE PLANTS SHIPPED TO YOU
Plan to have the plants arrive in the spring or early summer, because newly imported plants reestablish best during these times.

Work with your chosen vendor well in advance of the intended shipping date to ensure that you have chosen plants that are in stock and have provided the necessary permits and payments.

Emphasize to the seller that the plants and the paperwork must match exactly. Extra, bonus plants, or other undocumented plants may invalidate the documentation, causing the entire shipment to be refused entry, unless appropriate and proper documentation can be quickly arranged. Proper documentation is the responsibility of the vendor, and includes all pertinent export permits (if applicable and always for wild-collected plants), phytosanitary certificates and CITES papers. You will probably be charged a fee for this documentation.

Stress to the vendor that plants must be clean, clean, clean. Plants infested with pests (live or dead), or having the appearance of being wild-collected, may result in the shipment being refused entry. It is not illegal to import wildcollected plants if they have the proper documentation. However, unless the plants appear to be artificially propagated, matching the strict CITES interpretation, your paperwork may be invalidated if only good for artificially propagated plants. Your vendor should be instructed in no uncertain terms that unless the plants are absolutely, positively clean and appear sanitary, they should not be included.

Arrange shipment details well in advance. Air freight only seems expensive. The worldwide postal system is notoriously unreliable and subject to loss of shipments.

It is wise to place a copy of the documents on the outside of the shipping container, with the originals inside.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO HAND-CARRY PLANTS WITH YOU
Know your Port of Entry.

Call or write all nurseries you intend to visit well in advance so they can begin to arrange necessary paperwork for you. It is rarely possible to simply walk into a nursery and obtain the necessary documentation the same day, even in the United States.

Labeling, cleanliness and documentation requirements are every bit as important as for plants you would have had shipped to you, except: CITES regulations permit the USDA to allow a United States resident to bring orchids into the country for his or her personal use (not for commercial purposes) as part of a shipment of household effects or as personal baggage without having to obtain a CITES permit, provided the plants are not listed on Appendix I. The exemption applies to Appendix II plants that have been artificially propagated. The exemption does not apply to those orchid plants that have been taken from the wild in countries that require an export permit.

Carry a copy of your permit with you.

Keep a copy of any import documents in your possession, as well as with the plants.

Be prepared to make arrangements to have the plants forwarded to you from the Plant Inspection Station at the Port of Entry, as it is not always possible (nor should it reasonably be expected) for the inspectors to deal with your plants while you wait for them to be inspected and cleared.

GENERAL INFORMATION
CITES Appendix I plants are generally not available for international trade. These include: Cattleya trianaei , Laelia jongheana , Laelia lobata , Dendrobium cruentum , Peristeria elata , all Paphiopedilum species and all Phragmipedium species , Renanthera imschootiana and Vanda coerulea .

CITES Appendix II covers all other orchid species and hybrids. Wildcollected plants of Appendix II species are permissible as long as an appropriate permit accompanies them. Many countries do not issue permits for wildcollected plants. For this reason, get your permits prior to your visit.

Artificially propagated plants of Appendix I and II species and hybrids, sealed in sterile flasks, are exempt from CITES importation restrictions. In short, sterile flasks do not require CITES documentation for entry into the United States.

Plan ahead and be thorough. Do not expect it to be easy. Order extra plants to ensure survival of at least one of each desired plant. Once you've imported a species, keep it alive and spread it around.

Have the Exporter . . .
Label the plants with waterproof labels firmly attached to each plant.

Clean orchid plants thoroughly before packing. If any pests or diseases are found by the USDA, the entire container of plants must be treated. Original packing from infested plants cannot be reused.

Pack each genus separately. If pests are found and treatment is necessary, it may be possible to treat only a single infested genus because pests are often genus specific.

Pack plants with adequate room for repacking after inspection. Overstuffed boxes are difficult to repack without damaging plants.

Be sure every plant is listed on the CITES certificate. Orchids not shown on the certificate will be denied entry.

How to Get a Permit
If you are a private importer and wish to obtain a permit, write:

USDA
APHIS Plant Inspection and Quarantine Permit Unit, Unit 136
4700 River Road, Riverdale Maryland 20737-1236
Telephone: (301) 734-8896
Fax: (301) 734-5786
Web site: www.aphis.usda.gov

Ports of Entry