International shipping frustrated

[Rafael]

These days i tryed to purchase some palms unavailable in Europe.

I made a request to someone in the USA, and, after payment, and without phytosanitary certificate, i have decided to take a risk, in order to have some palms of my dream.

They were shipped, and, after arriving in Lisbon, they got caught by foreign costums, and they are asking for that certificate. As i do not have it, they will destroy them (or, otherwise, someone working there, will take them to his yard).

Now i understand it is useless to take that risk. I payed, i have no palms, i am horribly depressed because of that. I am desperated, cause i cannot find some species i want.

Thats very sad...

[Miccles]

These days i tryed to purchase some palms unavailable in Europe.

I made a request to someone in the USA, and, after payment, and without phytosanitary certificate, i have decided to take a risk, in order to have some palms of my dream.

They were shipped, and, after arriving in Lisbon, they got caught by foreign costums, and they are asking for that certificate. As i do not have it, they will destroy them (or, otherwise, someone working there, will take them to his yard).

Now i understand it is useless to take that risk. I payed, i have no palms, i am horribly depressed because of that. I am desperated, cause i cannot find some species i want.

Thats very sad...

That IS very sad Rafael.

IS there a chance you could email the seller in the US and ask them to fax either a certificate or the like to you or your countries customs ? If the seller is reputable, and is experienced in international shipments, they should be able to provide the necessary paperwork.

It seems a shame for everybody to have gone to such trouble.....all for nothing.

Good luck - keep us appraised.

Regards

Michael.

[Walter John]

What were those dream palms Rafael ? You never know, someone living near to you might have them or can get them for you. Someone reading this thread for example.

[gyuseppe]

rafael and very sad

in Italy can not buy plants from outside EU customs controls everything stops, checks take about two months, and the plants die

[Tomas]

rafael and very sad

in Italy can not buy plants from outside EU customs controls everything stops, checks take about two months, and the plants die

Yeah, even if the phyto is there!

Rafael,

your dream palms may be awailable in Europe too, try this

http://www.google.com/cse/home?cx=006960748624858804447:ciqyy3djulo&hl=it

Tomas

[fiji jim]

Rafael,

I have experienced this problem here many years back and have since developed a working relationship with the local office of agriculture and quarantine department.

You should inquire about an import permit for palm seed and see where that goes.

Almost anyone in the nursery trade in most countries will be able to get a phytosanitary certificate issued at a small cost.

Otherwise you should think about having your plants mailed via Germany or somewhere that they are less concerned about plant disease.

Send them to a friend who can send them onward to Portugal.

Don't give up,

Jim

[Peter Pacific]

Rafael,

I have experienced this problem here many years back and have since developed a working relationship with the local office of agriculture and quarantine department.

You should inquire about an import permit for palm seed and see where that goes.

Almost anyone in the nursery trade in most countries will be able to get a phytosanitary certificate issued at a small cost.

Otherwise you should think about having your plants mailed via Germany or somewhere that they are less concerned about plant disease.

Send them to a friend who can send them onward to Portug

Don't give up,

Jim

C´mon now Rafael, you gotta make friends with the custom agents!

Sorry about your loss. Peter

[Alberto]

........................ As i do not have it, they will destroy them (or, otherwise, someone working there, will take them to his yard.............

Same happened to me some years ago , when Nigel sent me some difficult to find palms here in Brazil. I received a letter from the ´´Ministério da Agricultura´´ saying that the plants were destroyed and I remember I felt the same and I thought the same : - Clean healthy seedlings from Europe...somebody will plant them in his yard.... :-(

:

[Jeff Searle]

These days i tryed to purchase some palms unavailable in Europe.

I made a request to someone in the USA, and, after payment, and without phytosanitary certificate, i have decided to take a risk, in order to have some palms of my dream.

They were shipped, and, after arriving in Lisbon, they got caught by foreign costums, and they are asking for that certificate. As i do not have it, they will destroy them (or, otherwise, someone working there, will take them to his yard).

Now i understand it is useless to take that risk. I payed, i have no palms, i am horribly depressed because of that. I am desperated, cause i cannot find some species i want.

Thats very sad...

That IS very sad Rafael.

IS there a chance you could email the seller in the US and ask them to fax either a certificate or the like to you or your countries customs ? If the seller is reputable, and is experienced in international shipments, they should be able to provide the necessary paperwork.

It seems a shame for everybody to have gone to such trouble.....all for nothing.

Good luck - keep us appraised.

Regards

Michael.

The reason for a phyto. is that an inspector will come out and inspect the palms to make sure their clean of pests before allowing the palms to be shipped. And in this case, once the palms were shipped, there's no chance of getting a phyto. How about a bribe? Just kidding...

[PalmatierMeg]

Italy is tough, even for palm seeds, and I guess Portugal is no better. I've heard other EU countries are more lenient, esp. Ireland. Some EU residents who know someone in Ireland have palms sent there, then forwarded. So sorry to hear of your loss, Rafael.

[Kris]

I think iam very lucky,we can get live plants,domestic animals & fresh seeds into our country from abroad.And also send seeds to distinct lands.

But the only downside is that i do not have the space & time to start a nursery...

Kris.

[Rafael]

These days i tryed to purchase some palms unavailable in Europe.

I made a request to someone in the USA, and, after payment, and without phytosanitary certificate, i have decided to take a risk, in order to have some palms of my dream.

They were shipped, and, after arriving in Lisbon, they got caught by foreign costums, and they are asking for that certificate. As i do not have it, they will destroy them (or, otherwise, someone working there, will take them to his yard).

Now i understand it is useless to take that risk. I payed, i have no palms, i am horribly depressed because of that. I am desperated, cause i cannot find some species i want.

Thats very sad...

That IS very sad Rafael.

IS there a chance you could email the seller in the US and ask them to fax either a certificate or the like to you or your countries customs ? If the seller is reputable, and is experienced in international shipments, they should be able to provide the necessary paperwork.

It seems a shame for everybody to have gone to such trouble.....all for nothing.

Good luck - keep us appraised.

Regards

Michael.

The reason for a phyto. is that an inspector will come out and inspect the palms to make sure their clean of pests before allowing the palms to be shipped. And in this case, once the palms were shipped, there's no chance of getting a phyto. How about a bribe? Just kidding...

[peachy]

Rafael I understand your frustration. In Australia we can only import palm seeds, and if half of the species you pay for germinates, then you are very fortunate. It's a expensive, time consuming and more often than not, disappointing way of getting hold of a rare palm that you wanted. Sometimes our quarantine service will seize seeds too for reasons of their very own. It is infuriating that some stupid little official can just take and destroy something you have paid for and been waiting to recieve. When its a rare palm species, it hurts us even more. The last time I had seeds taken by quarantine, I did not behave like a nice lady at all !! At least you can import a live plant with the right documentation.

Peachy

[Tyrone]

This is the reason why rare palms, especially large rare palms in many places are so expensive. When you work in a nursery, you see many members of the public wonder why some things are so expensive. This is why. Here in Oz, Western Australia and Tasmania have another layer of Quarantine to get through. WA and Tassie are like the inner sanctum of the inner sanctum. But it doesn't stop the canetoads. Maybe those narky quarantine officers should be out in the swamps smashing canetoads on the head!!!!!!!

Best regards

Tyrone

[Morabeza]

Sinto Muito Rafael! Que chatice. I agree with the advice there in this thread. I hope you can find the palms you desire and also can find new ways to have better success with the alfacinha inspectors.

[bgl]

This thread only just now attracted my attention. It should not have been allowed to remain here, since the very first post by Rafael mentions an international plant shipment without a phytosanitary certificate. The IPS, needless to say, does not condone illegal plant shipments and any mention of this type of activity will result in the thread being deleted. I'm leaving this thread here for the simple reason that I want this to be known. Future threads WILL be deleted.