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[email protected]

There are all kinds of ways to get seeds into the U.S. but the safest and most reliable is with a PYTO CERTIFICATE.
The seeds need to be inspected by the Dept. of Agriculture.
There was word of the system being changed, but it will be a long time if at all.
I have done this process for 2 years now. I have sent many packages together with one Pyto. to a single location in the U.S. in a box and the person at the other end has sent out the individual envelopes.
The largest package consisted of well over 500 seeds in individual seed envelopes. Last winter I sent across 8 boxes across without any problems.
Each inspection and Pyto costs approx. 12.50.
Another thing I have started in spending a few Extra dollars on postage and having all packages sent with tracking numbers. Pretty much stupid proof!!!!
Anyway if you need any help, any other info, post it on this thread, so everybody can benifit from it.

Eddy

10/5/2005 7:18:46 PM

Those are all good ideas, I don't know much about all that mailing stuff. You can always drive your seeds across the border too, or find someone that will drive them across, or make your trades person to person at the Niagara Falls seminar. Thanks for the info Eddy!

Brig

10/5/2005 7:28:51 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

What about the other way around? How do you get seeds into Canada?

10/5/2005 9:02:07 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

We are probably the easiest country in the world to get them into! Our customs folks don't require anything. Just have the shipper mark the packet "pumpkin seeds" and that they are a gift and away you go!
On another note, I sent about 75 individual bubble packs to the U.S., last winter and all got through....no prob. However, none were very valuable. Probably if I shipped a valuable one, it would get caught. I think if you only send a few at a time you probably won't have any problem. If you send 50 at a wack, they are likly to end up on someones desk that doesn't want to do the paper work.

10/5/2005 9:19:13 PM

Cologne / Germany

So what Dept. of Agriculture if sending from outside US? A certificate from an authority maybe in Germany?
Muhaha, that´s all I have to reply here.

10/5/2005 9:19:33 PM

[email protected]

Pyto Certificates come from the Originating country, So if you live in Germany, then you need to get it in Germany. I have seeds from all over, and I get my pyto in Canada.

801.5 Stelts $500.00 U.S.
Pyto Certificate $12.70 Canadaian
Tracked shipping $6.70 Canadian

Having the package and seed Arrive safely PRICELESS

So why take the chance with maybe getting your seed destroyed. Remember the 801.5 Stelts was an unproven seed. The unproven seed that is destroyed today could be a $500.00 seed in a few years.

10/5/2005 11:15:01 PM

Indiana

You know Eddy....When applying a cost/benefit analysis based on the probability of the seed being that good....LOL

Sorry the US is so picky about this stuff!! As if its not gonna get here anyway......

10/6/2005 12:52:24 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

These diary posts outline the procedure for getting a phytosanitary certificate from the UK.

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=30413

10/6/2005 3:03:06 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

I will try to get some info on obtaining a Pyto Certificate in Germany. I agree with Ingo that it is difficult to get certificates from authorities in Germany but it shouldn't be impossible.

Anyways, there are no restrictions on importing (pumpkin)seeds to Germany. So, if you live in the US, in Canada, in Australia or any other country in the world and want to send seeds to Germany just go ahead and do it... no problem. It doesn't matter if you use a customs sticker or not, they should make it through without any problems unless they are lost during delivery, which of course is a rare thing to happen.

10/6/2005 8:32:09 AM

Cologne / Germany

Martin, how did you send your seeds so far assuming they all arrived in the US?

10/6/2005 8:46:50 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

I either send them via registered mail without a customs sticker and the bubble pack inside a regular business envelope or Owen forwarded them for me via the US military mail system that he has access to.

10/6/2005 8:53:07 AM

[email protected]

Martin
If you run into a dead end, I can get your seeds through from here, There are a lot of people wanting your seeds, If you send me your bubble packs in a box, I can have them inspected here and forward them on with a Pyto.
When you send to me, make sure it has a tracking Number.
The 869 Calai I sent you came back after 3 months, and I sent that regular Mail.
Furthermore I have no problem doing this for anybody. But you must number and initial each seed, I don't want to be responsible for a mix up. And everything sent to me or anything I send will have a tracking number.
One other thing, do not put your return address on the bubbles. Make arrangements with someone State side and use their return address. I did run into a situation last year by using my own return addy. i had a package returned due to insufficient postage and when I got it back, I had to go through the whole process again.
Eddy

10/6/2005 9:35:11 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Eddy, you have mail...

Thanks,
Martin

10/6/2005 12:01:08 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Would this be an easier way to get seeds from Germany to Thornhill if they are sent in bulk to Alberta and then in a smaller package to me? Or, is it best for me to send a SASB directly? I figure that if seeds are sent in bulk to Alberta, I would obviously need to pay my share for the shipping from Germany plus whatever it would cost to send from within Canada. But, maybe the process would be quicker and less expensive than sending an envelope in an envelope with some money to Germany.

10/6/2005 12:33:07 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

will work both ways as Canada has no import restrictions on pumpkin seeds.

10/6/2005 12:45:17 PM

Cologne / Germany

Martin, you might get that phyto in Germany, but what does it help or who will look at it if bubbles arriving at US customs from Germany - as posted earlier - are redflagged anyway? Got them back redflagged.
I wonder what - assuming that might ever happen - is done to bubbles coming with a phyto from France...LOL

10/7/2005 6:30:08 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

When crossing the border with seeds, is a phyto certificate required? Do they check for pumpkin seeds? The last time I went to Canada, all they asked me is, "Do you have any potatoes?"

10/7/2005 11:01:45 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Shannons comment was "seeds coming from Germany seem to be redflagged for some reason".

I suggest that reason is because they didn't have a phyto certificate with them.

10/8/2005 4:11:38 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

One other thing to point out is that since 2000 APHIS have been working on putting into place x ray machines on international mail lines that can detect agricultural products,It would seem that perhaps they are not in place yet or maybe some places not others.
I think that once you start deliberately hiding things away from customs you are playing in a different ball game and you may not like the rules that apply.

10/8/2005 1:31:32 PM