Applying for a USDA permit to import seed to the US

 Members from the USA who wish to order seed must first apply for a permit to import Small Lots of Seed to the US.  You need send your import permit by post, or preferably email it to Diane Clement.  The permit is free and valid for 3 years, but if you already have a permit, please check it is still valid until at least March 2025 to allow time for postage of your seed order and administrative work by the USDA.

The AGS has been using this system to send seeds to the US for many years, and the system works well.  You can apply online for your permit from the APHIS site.  Some of the US entry ports are easier to deal with than others and you can choose to use any port, it does not need to be the one closest to you.  In particular, we recommend not to use Los Angeles, Miami,  New York (Jamaica) or Seattle which have all caused problems in the past.

Applying for your Permit

Please go to this page to apply for your permit:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/buy-plants-seeds-online/seeds-additional-requirements#:~:text=Seeds%20of%20certain%20endangered%20species,Import%20Plants%20or%20Plant%20Products

Some important advice

On the first line of section 3 of the application, enter “SMALL LOTS OF SEED PROGRAM”. 

On the second line, DO NOT list the seed species and countries from which you want to ship each species,  write “eligible taxa” 

You must include this last wording to include all possibilities over the lifetime of the permit.  You should consult the list of banned species and not include them in your order.  However, we will assist with this and check all orders going out to confirm we are not sending species which are banned entry to the US.

Useful advice can be found on the NARGS site:

https://nargs.org/restricted-seed

You must include one import permit and one green/yellow label for every 50 packets or fewer that you order.  Please include your email address on your order in case we need to get in touch with you. It is best to send your permit and green/yellow mailing label by email direct to my email address below.

Diane Clement, AGS Director of Seed

diane.clement@agsgroups.org