Chinese Plant Exports

iain@auchgourishbotanicgarden.org iain@auchgourishbotanicgarden.org
Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:57:18 PDT
A cautionary tale. 2-3 years ago all individuals and firms throughout the United Kingdom, including ABG, registered as importers of plants per se, as distinct from seeds, were formally notified by our Scottish Government's Ministry of Agri + Fish  Dept. that only imports of material routed through one single named Chinese department issuing phyto-certificates would be trusted, this documentation location is Peking. Any material accompanied by phyto-certificates other than those issued at Peking are risking confiscation and most probably also will be destroyed without compensation.

The reason given was that many instances of phyto-certificates issued from other locations in that country were often either subsequently shown to be fraudulent or not relating to plants either of species listed in the consignment and or failing to meet basic health status vis a vis pests, nematodes, insects, etc, etc. These new-ish strictures, agreed with the Chinese authorities, are now European Union wide. However, as might be expected, several member countries around the Mediterranean littoral are not as vigilant or free from staff who respond to personal pecuniary 'offers'. Apart from RBG Edinburgh we have the only non-commerical plant quarantine facilities for importing plant martial in Scotland, there are however, as might be imagined, several locations in England which can and do undertake such importations, some are quite significant in their volume and range of botanical materials as well as being very efficient and reliable.

With reference to a name recently trending, said person on being advised of the requirement for phyto-certificates assured me "not to worry I can buy one through a friend". I would suggest, if not already required by APHIS in the USA, importers of plant material from this region ought to be specific in their request for phyto-certificates issued by the government office based in Peking. The legacy problems of this sort in the European forest industry e.g. is now catastrophic in respect of genera such as Ulmus, Fraxinus, Larix, Pinus, Quercus, Rhododendron, etc, etc, etc. As a former Forestry Consultant to see this needless and avoidable environmental destruction is really shocking

Roger Whitlock's post ref the best route forward for certain Chinese nurseries would rightly be to propagate material from their wild collections as was also suggested from here to the person of interest as a good way forward but so far as I am aware it has never been taken up. A great pity, perhaps the delivery from the person of interest for example of Cardiocrinum bulbs instead of Lilium sargentiae and various Hemerocallis sp. instead of various small Iris sp. might have been avoided along with the concomitant ill will and embarrassment that goes with it. Its a wild wild world out there, not just confined to the cess-pit the internet has now become with its trolls, bad-mouthers and scammers. Be careful good people; at my request to an unconnected third party, we tested a response to the offer for sale of bulbs being posted on this exchange which produced a result suggesting that the name of Chen Yi is indeed being miss-used by another individual / outfit, or whatever. Plus
  ca change!

Summer has finally arrived at 58 degrees North here in Scotland, its taken its time but the lily collection has gone bananas, a joyous sight and not before time, 
Lilium nanum and Lilium oxypetalum have kicked off this year's flowering last week, Lilium macklineae - Naga Land form looks to be next, the Eurasian section Martagon should be on show next week. Iain



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