I wondered about this as I read all the information that was being posted to the various lists in the months leading up to when the new USA seed import method was begun. According to what was entered into the Federal Register, the USDA authors of the new regulations expected that seed importers would establish an account with the US Postal Service to which the USDA/APHIS/PPQ inspectors could charge postage after inspecting the seeds when they first came into the U.S. in order to mail the package on to the importer. So of course, I decided to look into this before the new permit application starting date. Not being able to find anything online, I finally called and spoke with real humans. They finally transferred me to someone who actually called me back after studying the entry in the Federal Register. He said he didn't know of anything, especially on a small scale, that the USPS offered that would fulfill what the USDA thought was possible. (I suppose different agencies don't really communicate with each other when inventing new rules or regulations?) He offered me a few alternate suggestions, but he agreed there was no good solution. Then month or two after I got my permit, I saw the NARGS instruction sheet on how those outside the US were to ship their seed donations to the NARGS seed exchange. I also decided to import some Clivia seeds from one of the second chance offerings of one of the Clivia clubs in South Africa. I followed their instructions about sending them a yellow and green import sticker as well as a self-addressed label that they would send on with the seeds. BTW, my yellow and green stickers are pre-addressed to the inspection station near LAX. The Clivia club addressed the package to me as well as placing the sticker in a prominent place. The seeds went to the LAX inspection station, they examined them, sealed my package up again (it was a large padded envelope, one end of which had clearly been sliced open, and then stapled closed again right through the tape that had been wrapped around the envelope) and as far as I can tell dropped it in the mail again which already had my address on it. It came straight to my house without further problems. No requests for additional postage and no US stamps or postage markings of any kind were on the package. I still don't know what the final solution really is supposed to be. I get the impression that many of the local inspection ports don't know either. The instructions say to send a copy of all pages of the seed import permit to be included in the shipment so that when the seeds finally do arrive at a port, the inspectors can read what they're supposed to do right off your permit! Doesn't sound too organized yet. --Lee On Sep 25, 2006, at 1:12 PM, Richard wrote: > I have just received a phone call from the USDA regarding a small seed > shipment from South Africa. They want me to send forwarding postage to > LA from where it will be forwarded. > > This is something I have been doing for years and the forwarding > postage was never required. Now, I have to pay postage twice. Once > from SA and Once from LA. > > Never happened before. > Does anyone know about this? > > Richard In Vista CA. > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php >