Permits needed for Exporting bulbs outside the EU?

[annew]

I've been trying to find out which countries require a permit for bulbs, especially galanthus, to be sent there.
I've been on the IPCC website but the bit I need is in such complicated jargon that I don't understand it.eg
Plants, plant products and other objects which must be subjected to a systematic phytosanitary examination at the place of production if originating in the Community, before being placed on the market, or to an import phytosanitary inspection in the country of origin or the consignor country, if originating outside the Community before being permitted to enter the Community,
and growers, producers, traders and importers of these must be registered pursuant to Article 12, paragraph 1, letters a), b), where appropriate, d) of the Act

Galanthus come under this subheading:
Plants, plant products and other objects produced by producers whose production and sale is authorised to persons professionally engaged in plant production, other than those plants, plant products and other objects which are prepared and ready for sale to the final consumer for use for non-industrial and non-commercial purposes, and/or which are grown or offered for sale, clearly separate from other products and placed on the market in a such form (method of packing, marking, way of growing), obvious that they are intended to final consumer for use for non-industrial and non-commercial purposes.
 
Is there anyone out there that understands this language? Or maybe a nurseryman who can tell me what I need to know?

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Anne,

Welcome to the wonderful world of biosecurity gobbledegoop.

Basically it means that galanthus are subject to a number of trade compliance requirements.

They are saying:

Export to another country outside the EU requires a phytosanitary certificate either/or derived from an in-field inspection or a point of export inspection.

Also if you are intending to export as a registered commercial grower you need a permit. I don't think that applies to small scale growers but you would need to establish the cut off point.

There is a further requirement there as well about one being a third party exporter where you are the recipient of bulbs which you intend to export but you are not the grower.

All this doesn't amount to a hill of beans UNLESS you know what the import requirements are for the country you intend to export to. You need to go online and search ... such and such a country import requirements .. live plants ... galanthus.

Unfortunately you will also have to comply with CITES regulations which control the export of endangered species (yes even nursery-bred clones are subject to these) and these you cannot escape unless you want to lie ... and I am not encouraging you to do so.

Basically the games up for small importers and exporters all wrapped up in a mummy's garb of compliance. Have you seen Terry Gilliam's anti-Utopian classic film Brazil?

Cheers, Marcus

[Susan Band]

Hi Anne,
You can see the reason why most people just sell to the EU.
You will probably find that the inspectors are quite helpful if you phone them up . I use SEERAD here as I am in Scotland but it would be DEFRA down your way.
Different countries require different things, some just need the bulbs to be looked at when they are washed and ready to go others need such things as a field inspection for Potato cyst nematode . Our guys up here are really helpful and look all these up and let me know what I need but I  still don't export now as I find it too much of a hassle organising dates etc.
Neither do I import as they can be stopped and held for 2 weeks while they inspect them.
Hope this helps.

Susan

[Hoy]

Anne,
I can import bulbs to Norway from EU at least without a phytosanitary certificate but Galanthus and almost all orchids need a CITES certificate to show they are garden grown and not wild collected.

[annew]

Thank you all. Do I also need a CITES certificate to send galanthus to other EU countries?

[Darren]

Thank you all. Do I also need a CITES certificate to send galanthus to other EU countries?

I don't think so Anne - my understanding is that the EU counts as one 'state' for CITES purposes.

[johnw]

Anne  - My understanding is the you can ship freely within the EU without a CITES.

To export to Canada I would also have to get a Permit and that Permit # has to be stated on the Phyto which you get and presumably the CITES certificate.  A friend looks after all that paperwork so I'm not certain if the CITES has the permit number. 

If you are contemplating shipping outside the EU - i.e. west - it would be advisable to grow those bulbs for export in non-soil commercial mixes and restrict them to the greenhouse without any contact with outisde soil - nematode and potato disease issues.

I'd hate to look at the permit, phyto and CITES bill from the last big shipment we got - big as in the bill not the quantity, Galanthus you know.

johnw

[annew]

Many thanks for all your comments. I'll stick to UK and EU - I'm just too small a concern to want to get involved in expensive and time-consuming permits.

[annew]

Just had a reply from FERA:

Most countries outside the EU have their own set of plant health regulations, so we usually only deal with export queries on a case by case basis (we don’t have a list of all the countries that do/don’t require import permits). Once you know where you intend to send your materials, you should contact your local plant health inspector (You can find a list of contact details for our local offices on our website - http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/plantHealth/documents/phsiOffices0712.pdf) and they will check the requirements for you. If you’re exporting plants outside Europe, you will usually be asked to get a phytosanitary certificate from the UK authorities to say that the plants have been inspected by one of our inspectors and have been found free from plant pests and diseases.
 It is a lot simpler to move plants within the EU as all member states are covered by the same Plant Health Directive. There are few plant health restrictions against exporting plants to other member states, providing they are healthy (free from plant pests and diseases). The plants may be visually inspected at customs to check this.
Please be aware that Bulbs and Corms of Galanthus and Narcissus would require a plant passport to be traded within the EU. Please see the link to our guide on plant passporting if you need more information on this - http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/publications/documents/pass11.pdf.

I'd better find out about plant passports!

 

If you have any other queries, please let me know.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Anne,

I think you can see that its best to stick to your Trade Bloc it has many advantages.

These regulations are set up for corporate business and while individual officers within the system will be helpful you are up against a behemoth.

Cheers, Marcus

[annew]

I followed the plant passport link.
Galanthus and Narcissus come in Appendix C which says:

 Bulbs and corms which require plant passports only when sold or moved for commercial

growing on1



Since I am selling just one or two bulbs to the end-users ie gardeners to grow in their gardens, I think I am exempt from requiring plant passports within the EU. Probably  Maybe 

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Anne,

Exemption from passport requirements for people who only want to send a few bulbs is a concession by the bureaucrats to growers like you. Albeit a slightly irrational one - one plant can carry disease just as easily as 1000 - but welcome.

The passport system is a means of tracking down potential disease outbreaks to their source.

Cheers, Marcus

[annew]

And as such a good thing.