Ok, as far as I know/understand, you do NOT need a broker UNLESS your shipment is $1000 or greater. So far, I have yet to hit that mark in a single order.

For imports under $1000, the plants just go through Customs and USDA if the box is selected. After approval, they hit the regular mail system. If you owe duty (I have, no big deal), you pay it at your local Post Office, when your plants arrive.

For imports $1000 or greater, the plants will arrive at the closest Port of Entry (or be forwarded to) to you. You, or a broker, must make the formal entry. It is to protect you (making sure you get your high value shipment) and for Customs protection (they get their duty monies).

As a side note, some Ports of Entry require brokers, which means you can't show up yourself.

Thanks, Aurora. It's clear as mud, I see. :-)

It's exciting that you might open a nursery! Has't that already happened, de facto, in your house? Hehe You might want to connect with Susan - you can help her figure out how to import plants easier than she does, and she can give you advice on opening and operating a nursery.

Hi I am Susan. I have been in direct contact with customs in Miami. They say import permit or no import permit I have to have a broker if there are more than twelve plants. So since I know other ports are different I will inquisition with Maryland why my import of plants is different from others. Thank you for the information. I import personally not through the nursery.

I see no reason that you should have to acquire a Customs broker, unless your order is $1,000 or more. Unless the laws recently changed. I have not had an issue...yet!

Sounds like different rules at different airports. This is less than optimal. :-(

I wonder what the rules are for more than 12 plants at New York's JFK customs / Dept of Agg offices. Anybody imported more than 12 plants through here? Did you have to schlep there, or did they release to carrier for delivery?

Ok...more information:

According to this document (Suggestions to Applicants for Permits to Import Plants- APHIS):

I take that to mean, if you aren't shipping EMS, or bringing them in YOURSELF, you are going to need a broker.

The PDF (since I have no clue as to how to upload a document to Houzz) can be found by searching the Google machine, typing in the search words "suggestions to applicants import permits APHIS". It will be the first thing to pop up under search results.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/permits/downloads/q37-1circular.pdf

I copied and pasted the link.

Thank you!

I still see nothing that says a broker is required, except for the noted exceptions.

Update.

Wow! Glad THAT got corrected!

My last post was deleted, but I am happy to give out the correct information that for any shipment with a value of over $2500 or a commercial shipment of ANY value, a Customs broker is required. Technically, CBP can tell you to get a broker for any shipment at any time, but it is only in these cases that they will allow you to attempt to clear the shipment yourself. For plants that are generally admissible (not protected or endangered, etc), you only need a regular import permit if the shipment has 13 or more plants. Some plants need a protected plant permit, and some plants have specific regulations. In regards to regional offices and different ports, USDA only allows entry of live plants at certain ports (generally, larger ones). And yes, any import of live plants sent by air freight will need to be inspected by USDA at one of their PPQ stations before it will be released to you. All mail shipments are x-rayed and will be subject to the same clearance, though depending on the size, value, and mood of the inspector, they may or may not designate a formal entry. I'm not trying to cheat or take advantage of anyone, I'm simply letting you know the proper procedures and that I can help you. I've had many clients contact me after their plants were sitting in a non temp controlled airline hangar for days and they're unaware of how to deal with Customs.

Ok.

I agree with almost everything you said, minus:

"And yes, any import of live plants sent by air freight will need to be inspected by USDA at one of their PPQ stations before it will be released to you."

This is simply not true. Any shipment of live plants sent by air freight (cargo) is SUBJECT to inspection by USDA Customs. This does not mean it WILL be inspected. You will know if your package was selected to be inspected, because when USDA re-packages after opening a searched box, they use their tape (green and says USDA).

If you are not trying to come off as cheating anyone/disadvantaging people, why didn't you just provide links to USDA/CBP, like I have done several times? All the information you just gave is easily accessible for FREE, via the internet, without the broker fee!

Brokers are needed in some circumstances, which I already made a point of saying. But for the MAJORITY of us on this forum, a broker is useless and not worth the money. We aren't commercial/business, nor do our packages exceed $1k (most don't go over $500).

Customs is customs and if you have the extra $$, after paying for your plants AND using EMS (not cheap), and you want a broker, go for it.

Your last post was deleted because you were advertising services on a non-advertising page.

As a side note, if ANYONE is having issues receiving a package, or just general USDA/CBP questions, feel free to shoot ME an email (you know how to find it), and I will give you the answers, for FREE.

Had you bothered to read any previous threads in the multiple forums you advertised in, you would have quickly learned that most of us on here are WELL-VERSED in the way Customs/USDA works, and are more than happy to share procedures and information, FOR FREE, to those that are not.

This is a well-knit community, and apologies for being so blunt, but when a complete stranger starts replying to threads that are only relevant to their COMPANY (yeah, I read your posting history), without contributing to the community in any other way OTHER than advertising, my feathers are going to ruffle!

Had you just freely given the information out (the same information that can be found FREE via Google and us well-versed in CBP/USDA procedures), instead of advertising your company and asking people to email you with any questions, I might not have been so offended.

Bottom line is, you are trying to increase your bottom line and thought this forum would be a good way to do so.

Like I said earlier, if it was just about giving out correct information, you would have just posted it, without the spiel about your company.

Before you post on this forum, or any other forum in this website, ask yourself these questions:

1. Is what I am posting relevant to the conversation? If yes, continue. If no, STOP.

2. Am I advertising? If yes, STOP. If no, continue.

3. Is the information I am posting freely available online, and if it is, am I trying to solicit business from folks by asking them to further contact me with any questions via email? If yes, STOP. If no, continue!

4. If they contact me via email, are my intentions to still give them information FOR FREE? If yes, good to. If no, STOP!

5. If someone privately emails me for INFORMATION, will I be trying to sell them a product they may not need to increase my bottom line? If no, good to go, if yes, GO AWAY!

Apologies to my fellow hoyors for the rant!

Hello aurorawa,

I realize this post is from 3 years ago but I recently started my plant growing hobby and went through the process of obtaining a PPQ 587 to import Korean plants to the US. I would like to ask you a few questions if possible, as the listed conditions on my permit (particulalry the clause about how ALL plants apparently having to be inspected at a USDA PPQ station) honestly intimidates me into not wanting to import plants out of the country. Please advise if there is anyway I can contact you to discuss this and other shipping and permit related inquiries. Best wishes and thank you in advance!

Hi. I am a first time user of Houzz. Does anybody know of a good broker/consultant that can help me import a rose plant from the UK into the USA? Thank you in advance.

You've landed in the hoya forum so a question about a rose bush may not fit the topic here. Post your question in the Rose forum.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/roses

But in general, it's not worth it to try to import a rose bush from the UK. It's much better to just try to purchase it in the U.S.

The seller in the UK would need to remove all media and provide a phytosanitary certificate for the plant. Then ship to the U.S. where it would be inspected at a USDA inspection site.

Thank you for your reply and information. I really appreciate it.