Seeds, Grains and Nuts for Sowing to the United States of America

Branding / Labelling Requirements for Seeds, Grains and Nuts

Conditions: All seed consignments entering USA must be branded on the container(s) and/or individual package with the following particulars:

• Name (common and botanical) and quantity of the contents
• Country and locality where the commodity was grown.
• Name and address of shipper, owner or agent
• Name and address of consignee
• Shipper’s mark
• Number of written permit (if applicable)

General information for all types of seeds

•  seed shipments from New Zealand require a phytosanitary certificate except for small lots of seed which may be imported into the USA under the following conditions;

(1)    authorised by a written permit

(2)    seed is not of a prohibited genus; not a USA Federal noxious weed; does not require any additional declarations on a phytosanitary certificate; does not require treatments; is not a parasitic plant; is not genetically modified and if a field crop or vegetable seed meets requirements of the USA Federal Seed Act import provisions.

(3)    The seed meets the following packaging and shipping requirements: authorised by a written permit

(i) Each seed packet is clearly labeled with the name of the collector/shipper, the country of origin, and the scientific name at least to the genus, and preferably to the species, level;

(ii) There are a maximum of 50 seeds of 1 taxon (taxonomic category such as genus, species, cultivar, etc.) per packet; or a maximum weight not to exceed 10 grams of seed of 1 taxon;

(iii) There are a maximum of 50 seed packets per shipment;

(iv) The seeds are free from pesticides;

(v) The seeds are securely packaged in packets or envelopes and sealed to prevent spillage;

(vi) The shipment is free from soil, plant material other than seed, other foreign matter or debris, seeds in the fruit or seed pod, and living organisms such as parasitic plants, pathogens, insects, snails, mites; and

(vii) At the time of importation, the shipment is sent to either the Plant Germplasm Quarantine Center in Beltsville, MD, or an approved port of entry listed in the permit.

Coated and pelletised seed

Conditions: Importers must submit a permit application (PPQ form 587, see section Import Permits), a statement from MAFBNZ, as the NPPO of the country of origin, stating the name of the sampling officials, a phone and fax number for the sampling official and a letter from the sampling official stating that the sampling will be done according to International Seed Testing Association requirements. If approved, authorized samplers (sample to be drawn by a MAF accredited sampling officer or under MAF supervision) will draw an official seed sample from each lot before the seed is processed in the country of origin. The sealed sample will accompany the shipment of coated or pelleted seed for inspection by PPQ at the port of entry

Flower and other herbaceous plant seeds (as distinguished from seeds of trees and shrubs)

Conditions: Includes most annual, biennial and perennial flower seeds. Except as indicated in the small lots of seed provision above and in the special requirements for Seeds, Grains and Nuts, seeds in this category are enterable under oral permit (no written import permit is required). Phytosanitary certificate required. Subject to inspection and appropriate treatment, if required, on arrival.

Tree and shrub seeds (woody plants)

Conditions: Plant import permit (written) required.  Phytosanitary certificate and additional declarations and/or treatments (as indicated on import permit) required.

Field crop and vegetable seeds

Except as indicated in the small lots of seed provision above, and the special requirements for Seeds, Grains and Nuts, seeds in this category are enterable without a written permit. Seeds in this category are subject to the import provisions of the USA Federal Seed Act. Each lot must be accurately labeled as to kind, variety, origin, and lot designation. If the seed is treated, the declaration of labeling and each container must be further labeled. Inspectors will sample and inspect each lot of field crop and vegetable seed at the port of entry. If  inspectors find noxious weeds or other pests, they may refuse admission or allow the seed to be cleaned or processed under supervision.

Endangered Species

Some seeds are regulated by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). If the seeds you want to import into the USA are not common species, contact the Permit Unit for a list of ESA- and CITES- regulated seeds.

Genetically Engineered Seeds

For the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of genetically engineered seeds to the USA, apply using APHIS Form 2000, Application for Permit.

Permit Information

• For a written permit, submit a PPQ form 587 permit application (see Import Permits)
• For a plant pest permit, submit a PPQ form 526 (see Import Permits).

Seed sampling and tolerances

Seed that is imported for:

• sowing for experimental or breeding purposes;

• that is not for sale;

• is limited in quantity to the amount indicated in column 3 of the table below; and

• is accompanied by a declaration stating the purpose for which it is being imported (seed imported for increase purposes only will not be considered as being imported for experimental or breeding purposes); may not be subject to seed sampling to determine the presence of actionable (noxious) weed seeds.

  Seeds of agricultural and vegetable crops destined for sowing are sampled at the following rates.

  Name of seed	Working weight for noxious weed examination (grams) (1)	Maximum weight of seed lot not ordinarily sampled (pounds) (2)	Maximum weight of seed lot permitted entry for experimental or breeding purposes without sampling on arrival in the USA (pounds) (3)
  VEGETABLE SEED:
  Artichoke	500	25	50
  Asparagus	500	25	50
  Asparagus bean	500	25	50
  Bean		25	200
  Garden	500	100	500
  Lima	500	25	200
  Runner	500	25	200
  Beet	300	25	50
  Broadbean	500	25	200
  Broccoli	50	5	10
  Brussels sprouts	50	5	10
  Burdock, great	150	10	50
  Cabbage	50	5	10
  Cabbage, Chinese	50	5	10
  Cabbage, tronchuda	100	5	10
  Cardoon	500	25	50
  Carrot	50	5	10
  Cauliflower	50	5	10
  Celeriac	25	5	10
  Celery	25	5	10
  Chard, Swiss	300	25	50
  Chicory	50	5	10
  Chives	50	5	10
  Citron	500	25	50
  Collards	50	5	10
  Corn, sweet	500	25	200
  Cornsalad	50	5	10
  Cowpea	500	25	200
  Cress, garden	50	5	10
  Cress, upland	35	5	10
  Cress, water	25	5	10
  Cucumber	500	25	50
  Dandylion	35	5	10
  Dill	50	5	10
  Eggplant	50	5	10
  Endive	50	5	10
  Gherkin, West Indian	160	25	50
  Kale	50	5	10
  Kale, Chinese	50	5	10
  Kale, Siberian	80	5	10
  Kohlrabi	50	5	10
  Leek	50	5	10
  Lettuce	50	5	10
  Melon	500	25	50
  Mustard, India	50	25	100
  Mustard, Spinach	50	5	10
  Okra	500	25	50
  Onion	50	5	10
  Onion, Welsh	50	5	10
  Pak Choi	50	5	10
  Parsley	50	5	10
  Parsnip	50	5	10
  Pea	500	25	200
  Pepper	150	5	10
  Pumpkin	500	25	50
  Radish	300	25	50
  Rhubarb	300	5	10
  Rutabaga	50	5	10
  Sage	150	25	50
  Salsify	300	25	50
  Savory, summer	35	5	10
  Sorrel	35	5	10
  Soybean	500	25	200
  Spinach	150	25	50
  Spinach, New Zealand	500	25	50
  Squash	500	25	50
  Tomato	50	5	10
  Tomato, husk	35	5	10
  Turnip	50	5	10
  Watermelon	500	25	50
  AGRICULTURAL SEED
  Agrotriticum	500	100	500
  Alfalfa	50	25	100
  Alfilaria	50	25	100
  Alyceclover	50	25	100
  Bahiagrass	50	25	100
  Barrel clover	100	25	100
  Barley	500	100	500
  Bean, adzuki	500	100	500
  Bean, field	500	100	500
  Bean, mung	500	100	500
  Bean (see Velvetbean)
  Beet, field	500	100	500
  Beet, sugar	500	100	1000
  Beggarweed	50	25	100
  Bentgrass, colonial	2.5	25	100
  Bentgrass, creeping	2.5	25	100
  Bentgrass, velvet	2.5	25	100
  Bermudagrass	10	25	100
  Bermudagrass, giant	10	25	100
  Bluegrass, annual	10	25	100
  Bluegrass, bulbous	40	25	100
  Bluegrass, Canada	5	25	100
  Bluegrass, glaucantha	10	25	100
  Bluegrass, Kentucky	10	25	100
  Bluegrass, Nevada	10	25	100
  Bluegrass, rough	5	25	100
  Bluegrass, Texas	10	25	100
  Bluegrass, wood	5	25	100
  Bluejoint	5	25	100
  Bluestem, big	70	25	100
  Bluestem, little	50	25	100
  Bluestem, sand	100	25	100
  Bluestem, yellow	10	25	100
  Bottlebrush- squirreltail	90	25	100
  Brome, field	50	25	100
  Brome, meadow	130	25	100
  Brome, mountain	200	25	100
  Brome, smooth	70	25	100
  Broomcorn	400	100	500
  Buckwheat	500	100	500
  Buffalograss: (Burs)	200	25	100
  Buffalograss: (Caryopses)	30	25	100
  Buffelgrass: (Fascicles)	66	25	100
  Buffelgrass: (Caryopses)	20	25	100
  Burclover, California: (in bur)	500	100	500
  Burclover, California: (out of Bur)	70	25	100
  Burclover, Spotted: (in bur)	500	100	500
  Burclover, Spotted: (out of Bur)	50	25	1000
  Burnet, little	250	25	100
  Button clover	70	25	100
  Canarygrass	200	25	100
  Canarygrass, reed	20	25	100
  Carpetgrass	10	25	100
  Castorbean	500	100	500
  Chess, soft	50	25	100
  Chickpea	500	100	500
  Clover, alsike	20	25	100
  Clover, arrowleaf	40	25	100
  Clover, berseem	50	25	100
  Clover, cluster	10	25	100
  Clover, crimson	100	25	100
  Clover, Kenya	20	25	100
  Clover, Ladino	20	25	100
  Clover, Lappa	20	25	100
  Clover, large hop	10	25	100
  Clover, Persian	20	25	100
  Clover, red	50	25	100
  Clover, rose	70	25	100
  Clover, small hop (suckling)	20	25	100
  Clover, strawberry	50	25	100
  Clover, sub (subterranean)	250	25	100
  Clover, white	20	25	100
  Corn, field	500	100	1000
  Corn, pop	500	100	1000
  Cotton	500	100	500
  Cowpea	500	100	500
  Crambe	250	25	100
  Crested dogtail	20	25	100
  Crotalaria, lance	70	25	100
  Crotalaria, showy	250	25	100
  Crotalaria, slenderleaf	100	25	100
  Crotalaria, striped	100	25	100
  Crotalaria, sunn	500	25	100
  Crownvetch	100	25	100
  Dallis grass	40	25	100
  Dichondra	50	25	100
  Dropseed, sand	2.5	25	100
  Emmer	500	100	500
  Fescue, Chewings	30	25	100
  Fescue, hair	10	25	100
  Fescue, hard	20	25	100
  Fescue, meadow	50	25	100
  Fescue, red	30	25	100
  Fescue, sheep	20	25	100
  Fescue, tall	50	25	100
  Flax	150	25	100
  Galletagrass:(other than caryopses)	100	25	100
  Galletagrass: (caryopses)	50	25	100
  Grama, blue	20	25	100
  Grama, side-oats: (other than caryopses)	60	25	100
  Grama, side-oats: (Caryopses)	20	25	100
  Guar	500	25	100
  Guineagrass	20	25	100
  Hardinggrass	30	25	100
  Hemp	500	100	500
  Indiagrass, yellow	70	25	100
  Indigo, hairy	70	25	100
  Japanese lawngrass	20	25	100
  Johnsongrass	100	25	100
  Kenaf	500	100	500
  Kochia, forage	20	25	100
  Kudzu	250	25	100
  Lentil	500	25	100
  Lespedeza, Korean	50	25	100
  Lespedeza, sericea or Chinese	30	25	100
  Lespedeza, Siberian	30	25	100
  Lespedeza, Striate	50	25	100
  Lovegrass, sand	10	25	100
  Lupine, blue	500	100	500
  Lupine, white	500	100	500
  Lupine, yellow	500	100	500
  Manilagrass	20	25	100
  Meadow foxtail	30	25	100
  Medick, black	50	25	100
  Milk vetch	90	25	100
  Millet, browntop	80	25	100
  Millet, foxtail	50	25	100
  Millet, Japanese	90	25	100
  Millet, pearl	150	25	100
  Millet, proso	150	25	100
  Mollasses grass	5	25	100
  Mustard, black	20	25	100
  Mustard, India	50	25	100
  Mustard, white	150	25	100
  Napiergrass	50	25	100
  Needlegrass, green	70	25	100
  Oat	500	25	100
  Oatgrass, tall	60	100	500
  Orchardgrass	30	25	100
  Panicgrass, blue	20	25	100
  Panicgrass, green	20	25	100
  Pea, field	500	100	500
  Peanut	500	100	500
  Poa trivialis (see bluegrass, rough)
  Rape ,annual	70	25	100
  Rape, bird	70	25	100
  Rape, turnip	50	25	100
  Rape, winter	100	25	100
  Redtop	2.5	25	100
  Rescuegrass	200	25	100
  Rhodesgrass	10	25	100
  Rice	500	100	500
  Ricegrass, Indian	70	25	100
  Roughpea	500	100	500
  Rye	500	100	500
  Rye, mountain	280	25	100
  Ryegrass, annual	50	25	100
  Ryegrass, intermediate	80	25	100
  Ryegrass, perennial	50	25	100
  Ryegrass, Wimmera	50	25	100
  Safflower	500	100	500
  Sagewort, Louisiana	5	25	100
  Sainfoin	500	100	500
  Saltbush, fourwing	150	25	100
  Seasame	70	25	100
  Sesbania	250	25	100
  Smilo	20	25	100
  Sorghum	500	100	1000
  Sorghum almum	150	25	100
  Sorghum- sudangrass hybrid	500	100	1000
  Sorgrass	150	25	100
  Sourclover	50	25	100
  Soybean	500	100	500
  Spelt	500	100	500
  Sudangrass	250	25	100
  Sunflower	500	100	500
  Sweetclover, white	50	25	100
  Sweetclover, yellow	50	25	100
  Sweet vemalgrass	20	25	100
  Sweetvetch, northern	190	25	100
  Switchgrass	40	25	100
  Timothy	10	25	100
  Timothy, turf	10	25	100
  Tobacco	5	1	1
  Trefoil, big	20	25	100
  Trefoil, birdsfoot	30	25	100
  Triticale	500	100	500
  Vaseygrass	30	25	100
  Velcitgrass	40	25	100
  Velvetbean	500	100	500
  Velvetgrass	10	25	100
  Vetch, common	500	100	500
  Vetch, hairy	500	100	500
  Vetch, Hungarian	500	100	500
  Vetch, Monantha	500	100	500
  Vetch, narrowleaf	500	100	500
  Vetch, purple	500	100	500
  Vetch, woolypod	500	100	500
  Wheat, common	500	100	500
  Wheat, club	500	100	500
  Wheat, durum	500	100	500
  Wheat, Polish	500	100	500
  Wheat, poulard	500	100	500
  Wheat x Agrotricum	500	100	500
  Wheatgrass, beardless	80	25	100
  Wheatgrass, fairway crested	40	25	100
  Wheatgrass, standard crested	50	25	100
  Wheatgrass, intermediate	150	25	100
  Wheatgrass, pubescent	150	25	100
  Wheatgrass, Siberian	50	25	100
  Wheatgrass, slender	70	25	100
  Wheatgrass, streambank	50	25	100
  Wheatgrass, tall	150	25	100
  Wheatgrass, western	100	25	100
  Wildrye, basin	80	25	100
  Wild- rye, Canada	110	25	100
  Wild- rye, Russian	60	25	100
  Zoysia japonica (see Japanese lawngrass)
  Zoysia matrella (see Manilagrass)

Conditions: Where seed of Viola spp. is present within the consignment (acceptance level of zero) MAFBNZ phytosanitary certification will not be provided unless an accredited test is applied to the contaminated line and the seed is found to be free from Phoma violicola.

Note: P. violicola has been categorised as a quarantine pest by the USDA.

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United States of America General Requirements

General Information

For enquires about this standard email the Plant Exports Team:

plantexports@maf.govt.nz

To help Plant Exports process your email please record in the subject line of your email descriptive keywords which are relevant to your enquiry i.e. ICPR enquiry-Country-specific details.

For urgent enquiries phone or fax the Plant Exports Team

Telephone: 0800 008 333 (selecting option 3, then option 4)
Fax: 64 4 894 0733

Scope

This standard specifies the USA's phytosanitary requirements for the stated commodities and commodity classes only. If a commodity class is not listed under Commodity Class Requirements or Commodity Specific Requirements exporters should contact

• USA directly to ascertain requirements refer Import Permits

or

• Biosecurity New Zealand. Please note, the determination of phytosanitary requirements is undertaken on a cost recovery basis

Users of this document are strongly advised to review all sections of the ICPR for the determination of a commodity’s phytosanitary requirements.

Phytosanitary Legislation

United States phytosanitary requirements are documented in the following legislation:

• The Plant Quarantine Act of 1912
• The Federal Seed Act of 1939
• The Federal Plant Pest Act of 1957
• The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974

Regulations under these Acts are contained within the United States of America's Code of Federal Regulations (various editions)

Definitions

Agricultural seed Kinds and varieties of grass, forage, and field crop seed that are used for seeding purposes in the United States:

Coated seed Any seed unit covered with any substance that changes the size, shape, or weight of the original seed. Seeds coated with ingredients such as, but not limited to, rhizobia, dyes, and pesticides are excluded.

Declaration A written statement of a grower, shipper, processor, dealer, or importer giving for any lot of seed the kind, variety, type, origin, or the use for which the seed is intended.

Guam Where used this includes the islands of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Herbaceous Plants having little or no woody tissue and persisting, usually, for a single growing season.

H. Perennial A plant that has the top growth dying down annually, but where the crown, roots, bulbs, or rhizomes survive the winter.

Hybrid When applied to kinds or varieties of seed means the first generation seed of a cross produced by controlling the pollination and by combining two or more inbred lines; one inbred or a single cross with an open- pollinated variety; or two selected clones, seed lines, varieties, or species. "Controlling the pollination” means to use a method of hybridization that will produce pure seed that is at least 75 percent hybrid seed. Hybrid designations shall be treated as variety names.

Kind One or more related species or subspecies that singly or collectively is known by one common name, e.g., soybean, flax, or carrot.

Lot of seed A definite quantity of seed identified by a lot number, every portion or bag of which is uniform, within permitted tolerances, for the factors that appear in the labelling.

Mixture Seeds consisting of more than one kind or variety, each present in excess of 5 percent of the whole.

Pelleted seed Any seed unit covered with a substance that changes the size, shape, or weight of the original seed in order to improve the “plantability” or “singulation” of the seed.

Shrub A woody plant of relatively low height, distinguished from a tree by having several stems rather than a single trunk.

Transhipment A shipment brought in to the USA from a foreign port for:

• Off-loading and shipping to another US destination on the same or another airline,
• Off-loading for shipment to another country,
• Off-loading for breakdown and shipment to multiple destinations, or
• Temporary off-loading for re-positioning.

Vegetable Seed Kinds and varieties that are or may be grown in gardens or on truck farms and are or may be generally known and sold under the name of vegetable seed.

General Requirements

Prohibitions

Import Permits

Phytosanitary import permits state the phytosanitary requirements for that commodity

Import permits are required for:

• Consignments comprising 13 or more individual articles of nursery stock (other than seeds, bulbs or sterile cultures of orchid plants). Refer Nursery Stock and Whole Plants
• All nursery stock / seed which requires either treatment on arrival or post export quarantine
• Bulbs of Allium sativum, Crocosmia spp., Gladiolus spp. and Watsonia spp.
• Articles of Zea mays
• Articles of Cocos nucifera
• Articles (except seed) of Dianthus spp.
• Articles (except seed) of Castanea spp. and Castanopsis spp. destined for
• California or Oregon
• Articles (except seed) of Pinus spp. (five leaved) destined to Wisconsin
• Articles (including seed) of Ribes spp. destined to Massachusetts, New York,West Virginia or Wisconsin
• Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables
• Specified seed for sowing (see Seeds, Grains and Nuts for Sowing) including all seeds of trees and shrubs
• Microorganisms, micro biologicals and laboratory specimens.

Exporters/Importers are responsible for ensuring the permit is available at the time of the consignments arrival in the USA.

Where the import permit is not presented at the time of the request for MAFBNZ phytosanitary certification, the associated phytosanitary certificate must be endorsed with the following additional declaration:

Additional declaration: “Import permit not sighted”

Import permits are issued to importers and brokers residing in USA who must apply for the permit prior to the importation.

Import permits may be obtained from:

Permit Unit USDA - APHIS
Department of Agriculture
Unit 136, 4700 River Road
Riverdale, Maryland 20737-1236
USA

Telephone: 001 (301) 734-8645
Facsimile: 001 (301) 734-5786

Import permits may also be requested online at web01.aphis.usda.gov/ias.nsf/MainForm?OpenForm

Import conditions may be requested from the above address, or accessed via the internet at: www.aphis.usda.gov/favir

Import permit applications should be made at least 30 days before arrival of the article at the port of entry and should contain the following information:

• name, address (and telephone number) of the importer
• quantity and kind of plant material (scientific name)
• country of origin (where produced)
• intended port of entry to USA
• mode of transport (airfreight - mail etc.)
• expected date of arrival

Phytosanitary Certificates

Phytosanitary certificates are required for:

• nursery stock, cut flowers and foliage or other classes of plant, root, bulb, seed, or other plant product, for or capable of propagation
• seed shipments from New Zealand except for small lots of seed which may be imported into the USA under conditions (refer Seeds, Grains and Nuts for Sowing).
• where a negotiated pre-clearance work plan is in operation
• where an additional declaration or pre-export treatment is required.

- apricots (Prunus armeniaca), nectarines, (Prunus persica var. nucipersica), peaches (Prunus persica), plums (Prunus domestica), cherries (Prunus avium) and their hybrids – effective 27 February 2009, the time at port of entry in the USA.

- apple (Malus)-not pre-cleared by the USDA from New Zealand, avocado (Persea americana), blackberry (Rubus sp), blueberry/cranberry (Vaccinium spp), chinese gooseberry/kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.), currant (Ribes sp), loquat (Eriobotrya sp), grape (Vitis sp), feijoa/strawberry guava (Feijoa sellowiana), pear (Pyrus communis)-not pre-cleared by the USDA from New Zealand, asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)-not pre-cleared by the USDA from New Zealand, persimmon (Diospyros kaki) to Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands, raspberry (Rubus idaeus), strawberry (Fragaria sp), tomato (Lycopersicum L.)– effective 15 March 2009, the time at port of entry in the USA.

Phytosanitary certificates must be issued not more than 15 days prior to export of the consignment.

Quarantine Pests

The following quarantine pests are prohibited entry to the United States. Refer also to Maximum Pest Limits.

Note: The pest list represents well-documented organisms of greatest risk to the United States and is not an all-inclusive list of actionable pests. APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) may take quarantine action on organisms within the following higher taxa (url below) whether or not they are included on the pest list.

Shortcut to:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/downloads/Qua lstatement.pdf

Weeds

The following noxious weeds are prohibited from entry to the United States unless a written import permit has been issued.

Weed seeds - USA Federal noxious weed seeds are prohibited except under plant pest permit. Refer to USA Federal noxious weed list at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/weeds/index.shtml.

Parasitic plant seeds- prohibited except under plant pest permit (see Import permits).

Terrestrial Weeds

Maximum Pest Limits

For all commodities, except seed for sowing, exported to the United States of America requiring phytosanitary certificates, the MPL's are:

Quarantine pests* specified by United States of America	0.5%
Soil	25g/600unit

For all seed for sowing exported to the United States of America requiring phytosanitary certificates, the MPL's are:

Quarantine pests* specified by United States of America	0.5%
Soil	0.1% by weight

*Quarantine pests for United States of America include organisms identified within:

• Quarantine pests of this standard
• Additional declarations
• Phytosanitary import permit
• Categorised pest list (identified as actionable) refer link below

  www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/pests-diseases/registers-lists/commodity-pest-lists.htm

Ports of Entry

Consignments may only arrive, land or unload at ports which meet the following conditions:

• approved customs / quarantine ports of entry
• Agana, Guam
• named in the import permit

Consignments requiring mandatory treatment upon arrival may not enter through either Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands

Nursery stock and seed for sowing which requires a written import permit may only be imported through the following ports:

• Nogales, Arizona
• Los Angles, San Diego and San Pedro, California
• Miami and Orlando, Florida
• Honolulu (Airport), Hawaii
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• Hoboken and Jamaica, New York
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Brownsville, El Paso and Houston, Texas
• Seattle, Washington.

Transit Requirements

Consignments must comply with all USA quarantine requirements if landed in the USA.

Consignments transiting the USA which either do not meet the US import requirements or which would require mandatory treatment on arrival must be accompanied by a PPQ Transportation and Exportation Permit (T & E Permit). Importers can obtain a T&E Permit from USDA/APHIS-PPQ.

Transhipped shipments may require safeguarding measures as identified below:

Safeguard procedures to be implemented immediately upon off-loading include:

• Sealable containers will be sealed with tape or tarped with heavy plastic for sealing. Self sealing containers need not be tarped unless damaged or openings are obvious.
• Palleted cargo will be tarped with heavy plastic and sealed.
• Loose shipments in boxes without holes may be allowed to be transhipped without safeguarding if transferred in less than one hour. If a time period of more than one hour expires they must be tarped while awaiting transfer.
• Loose shipments in boxes with air holes will be tarped during off loading and while waiting transhipment.

Safeguard procedures to be implemented for breakdown at cargo shed:

• Shipment safeguards as above
• Boxes without holes, no action required
• Boxes with holes: the holes must be sealed with tape or entire box encased in a plastic bag as they are removed from safeguarded containers or pallets.

For consignments of agricultural and horticultural products transiting Hawaii the carrier shall notify USDA Honolulu at least 3 hours in advance of arrival of the consignment.

Consignments may transit a third country en-route to the USA under the following conditions. Where conditions are not met, the consignment may be refused entry by the USDA upon entry to the USA.

• the consignment may not be re-packed, stored, split or otherwise manipulated in the country it is transiting through
• the consignment must be protected from contamination in the country which it transits.

Re-export Requirements

All consignments imported into New Zealand and subsequently re-exported to the USA must meet USA import requirements for product from both the country of origin and from New Zealand.

Inspection on Arrival

All consignments are subject to inspection at the port of first arrival. All seed will remain at the port until released by an USDA-APHIS inspector.

Sampling Rate

Sampling rates, where known, are provided under the commodity section.

Treatment information

The following link directs importers to the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) treatment manual which is an operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments approved by APHIS. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/treatment.shtml