Over the years I've gotten seeds from overseas from various countries. In the "old days" they were addressed to me and came directly to me every time, no problems. After a phyto suddenly became required, only a very very very few sources could or would go through the steps to do it properly. Most places and people, even reputable longtime sources of seeds ignored the new requirements at that time, and I never had any package confiscated. Ever since the new small lots of seeds permits came into effect (no longer requiring a phyto), I've basically had two different kinds of experiences so far. Either the sender pasted the required import permit label on the outside of the envelope or package AND wrote my address on the outside (which the label instructions specifically state should NOT be done), in which case the packages came directly to me and were never stopped or inspected, Or the sender pasted the label on the outside of the package and did NOT write my address on the outside of the package, in which case the packages (in my case) all were delivered directly to the APHIS/PPQ inspection station near the LAX airport. In every case I've gotten a phone call from them telling me the seeds were cleared for release and I could come pick them up between 8 am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday only and not between noon and 1:00 pm either after driving directly across most of Los Angeles and then trying to drive back, during work and hoping not to hit traffic somewhere. Or I could give them a FedEx charge number or I could send them actual postage stamps for the correct domestic postage to get it mailed across town. No cash and no credit cards could be accepted. I usually had a friend who lives nearby go and pick them up and I could pick them up from my friend later in the evening after the traffic had dissipated. I believe that the reason the label specifies that the final destination address NOT be placed on the outside of the package was precisely because of what usually happens which is what I described that happened to me. Which means incoming packages never get intercepted to be inspected. However, today I received a package of seeds from Australia that had the label pasted on the outside AND my address written on the outside as well. This time, however, it went to the inspection station, they inspected it and then taped it up and sent it directly on to me without any phone call and without any additional postage. This is the first time this has happened to me in more than ten years of importing seeds from outside the U.S. The sender had drawn a box around my address, drew some arrows pointing to it, and had written above the top of the rectangle surrounding my address: "Permit Holder & Final Address". I believe that every nation that has joined the International Postal Union (pretty much almost every country in the world <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…>) is required to follow a standard set of rules, one of which is that the postage charged for an international package or letter covers delivery of that item to the final destination written on the outside of the item. I believe this has been a point of disagreement with the USPS and APHIS/PPQ and is why the local inspection office had to ask me for additional postage or a FedEx charge number to deliver packages to me when the sender did NOT write my address on the outside of the package. This would be great if they continue this practice. Furthermore, the sender had included a cover sheet inside the package that stated that the seeds were fleshy and could possibly germinate during delivery despite having been kept dry and dark the entire time. A few of the seeds HAD germinated en route, but nothing was confiscated and the sheet had been opened and read. So that is good too. So if this way of doing it continues, I think all of the concerns of each of the parties will be satisfied. --Lee Poulsen Pasadena, California, USA, USDA Zone 10a