If you are in the United States and ordering daffodil bulbs from growers in Australia, you should be aware that Australia now believes the U.S. requires an import permit for Narcissus bulbs and that Australian quarantine officials won’t issue the need phytosanitary certificate without seeing the import permit. As far as I know, the U.S. does not (yet) require an import permit for Narcissus bulbs; however, the following URL is how the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry sees things.
http://www.daff.gov.au/micor/plants/united_states_of_america_us/narcissus_spp#anchor-documentation
You can see from the date on the web page that this appeared to take effect April 18. I now know of two instances where it was sufficient for the Australian grower to show copies of the import permit in order to get the phytosanitary certificate. It is not hard to get an import permit nor does it cost anything, but it takes time. If you are in the U.S. and plan to buy daffodil bulbs from Australia next year, I suggestion you get an import permit for Narcissus from Australia (and you might as well add New Zealand and the United Kingdom just in case) and mail photocopies with your orders next year.
Kirby Fong
Kirby, et al,
Here’s apparently a little known fact: the USDA does require import permits on all plants coming into the country, including daffodils. Not sure when this occurred, but it’s very real and, if you’re one of the lucky ones whose boxes get pulled for random inspection, you’ll soon find out what a nightmare this can become without a permit. I’ve two years in a row had bulbs from Ringhaddy confiscated in ATL for failure to have an import permit included in the parcel… I was told that the first time I would be excused, but the second time I would be required to pay a substantial fine or risk the parcel getting destroyed… well… as it turns out, I experienced a second ‘first-time’ experience again last fall (thank my lucky stars!) but it was a hassle.
And, procrastinator that I am, I still haven’t applied… I too now have bulbs sitting in Australia, awaiting departure to the US. Lesson learned!
Here’s the online application link:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/permits/login_epermits.shtml
Access the link above to read about how to apply online for an import permit. Receipt of permit may take 3 months—or longer. However, once an application is in their system, the USDA will recognize the attempt and will grant entry to non-prohibited plants and plant parts (these categories exclude the daffodils). For permit questions, it is best to contact the permit unit at 1-877-770-5990.
Having a permit from the country of origin to export the plants to the US is necessary, and having a permit included in the parcel stating you have permission to bring them into the country is now also required. Before your bulbs are shipped from the respective country of origin, be sure to scan and e-mail (or post) a copy of your permit so that the vendor can include a copy in your box. Otherwise…. Either rely on Lady Luck or prepare to face the consequences. No bulb vendor should be responsible for reimbursing us for our bulbs if we don’t do our part to comply with regulations… and that can be a staggering financial loss!
Hope this helps,
Jason
P.S.—I am still downsizing poet photo files for daffnet!