Importing Chilli seeds into Australia

Micca302

Micca302

Hi Chilliheads,
 
Has anyone tried importing Chilli seeds into australia recently?
Just wandering if anyone has had any success after they have changed the import laws and stopped the Import of Chilli seeds.
It's this time of year when I look to do my ordering for next season and most of what i'm looking for is outside Aussieland.
If I read the import laws right it sounds like if they get confiscated you might be up for the cost of destroying them!
It is a real pain in the bum for us people trying to find the unusual/rare ones.
 
Happy Chilli Growing,
Micca
 
Hi Harry,
Sorry should have said C. Chinense, thats basically all I grow.
That link you posted was an interesting one, I didn't realize you had till the 7th June on the old import laws.
I was going off the link that Junglerain posted about it
This is what he said-
 
 
 hate to be the bearer of bad news but......
Info for Aussie Chilli Growers;
as of approx 2 months ago the import of Capsicum seeds has been amended;
Seed consignments either:

be accompanied by an official government Phytosanitary Certificate, which is endorsed with the following additional declarations, and identifies the seed lots and country where the seed was produced; supporting test reports must also accompany the declarations and include the name and address of the testing laboratory, the pathogens targeted, the seed lot tested, the number of seeds or plants tested, the type of test done, including, when appropriate, the oligonucleotide primers used; test samples are to be drawn in accordance with ISTA procedures

OR

be tested on-arrival if not accompanied by a satisfactory official government Phytosanitary Certificate.

NOTE : Re-export or destruction is also an option at the importer’s expense

this could now cost approx $600 for the importation of seeds :(

http://www.aqis.gov....&LogSessionID=0
 
Cheers,
Micca
 
No issues for me so far Micca ... 5-6 packages have arrived with most even stating chilli/pepper seeds on them since the change of laws. The 7th of June date is simply a change in testing protocols required not a change to import restrictions per-se they stand as the original change JR posted.
To be on the safe side get them posted in a plain card envelope with no mention of contents. I actually got some just yesterday from the US. No problems ...
 
Hey mate Cheers for the info. Yeah I read the link from Harry in a rush(at work) and didn't read it right.
Like you said they have added on another test to what was introduced a few months ago.
It might be worth giving it a try but given my past experience with AQUIS i'll probably be the first to cop it under the new laws!
 
Micca
 
Hammerfall said:
tehre is not the hippy seed company tehre that could provide you with everything you need?
Click to expand...
Micca is looking for a few varietals in particular which are not available at THSC or Jungle Rain
 
Never count out John from theChilliman.biz (NSW). I'm not affiliated, but i'm definitely a satisfied US buyer.
 
Also, if new laws will be going into effect, then you may want to stock up on more varieties this year, instead of holding it off.
 
Good luck either way.
 
Most of his seeds seem to be out of stock or not available ... there are ways and means of getting any type of seed into any country ... no need to panic just yet ;)
 
This wasn't recent - This was a year or 2 ago.

I tried to send seeds to a THP member in Australia and their customs consifcated it, because they did not like the way I labeled it. I called seeds, "superchile," instead of the proper scientific name, "var annuum superchile." Customs offered me my seeds back at some absurd price which I declined. I then re-sent the seeds, labeling them the way customs wanted. They arrived without issues.
 
The Best option to ensure delivery is to try to make sure customs don't even look at your mail .... that way even if one of them got a speeding ticket that morning they can't take it out on you ;)
 
Jetchuka said:
Never count out John from theChilliman.biz (NSW). I'm not affiliated, but i'm definitely a satisfied US buyer.
 
Also, if new laws will be going into effect, then you may want to stock up on more varieties this year, instead of holding it off.
 
Good luck either way.
Click to expand...
 
Yeah have been buying seeds from john for years. An excellent seller but i have grown alot of what he sells and he seems to have slowed right down now like Trippa said.
Unfortunately they sprung these new laws on us and did not get any orders in :(
 
 
 
dragon49 said:
This wasn't recent - This was a year or 2 ago.

I tried to send seeds to a THP member in Australia and their customs consifcated it, because they did not like the way I labeled it. I called seeds, "superchile," instead of the proper scientific name, "var annuum superchile." Customs offered me my seeds back at some absurd price which I declined. I then re-sent the seeds, labeling them the way customs wanted. They arrived without issues.
Click to expand...
 
Yes this was recent.
What you are referring to is our normal system that customs require. I have had many a dealing with them and depends on the person checking the mail as to how strick they are.
You used to have to label every seed packet with their botanical and common name and also declare them on the outside of the envelope. I have had many taken because they did not have the right spelling or missing botanical name. By the way that only really started about 5 years ago, before then C. Chinense weren't even on the permitted list.
Now they also require a import permit with a photosanitary cert with testing for 3 viruses! I realize they do this for a reason but makes it unaffordable to bring anything in.
Before they would just destroy them and you will not get them, now they are saying that you will be up for the cost of getting them destroyed!
 
Cheers Trippa for the help too :cool:
 
Well if any of you Aussies out there have any spare seed of 7-Pot Primo Orange, Pimenta Preta or Murupi, can you drop me a line and we'll do a trade.
 
Happy Chilli Growing,
Micca
 
Is having to fork out for destruction part of the even newer laws?? I know of someone who had their seeds intercepted and destroyed--on several occasions--since the new laws came into effect but AFAIK, they weren't once charged.
 
Interesting that Baccatum and Pubescens are not on the list. Does that mean that they are still only subject to the old laws?
 

http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_topiccontent.asp?TopicType=Quarantine+Alert&TopicID=25469 said:
Changes to Capsicum spp seed for sowing
Click to expand...
 
What about if they are declared as being "souvenir only - not to be grown" then...?? :D Haha I'm guessing still no bueno.
 
Trippa said:
The Best option to ensure delivery is to try to make sure customs don't even look at your mail
Click to expand...
 
That.
 
Note to international vendors: might be a good time to start introducing the "stealth" shipping method. Well, that's only if you still want our business, of course..... ;)
 
I just got an order from Semillas two weeks ago.  It had an `opened by customs` sticker on it but was all there and arrived fairly promptly, same as the last time a year ago.
 
Don't know if the actual people doing the inspecting don't particularly care about the laws, or they haven't trickled down yet, or the laws are really meant to apply to large commercial orders?  I had no problem. :)
 
http://www.exotic-seeds-lapalma.com/cgi-bin/shop_en/shop.cgi
 
edit:  I just dug out the envelope and the sticker actually says ` Opened by Australia Post for Inspection by Quarantine`.  Was just a regular small bubble envelope with no indications on the outside what it contained.  Inside was just the seeds and their business card.  I suppose that it slipped through by chance?
 
Hey Gas how the hell are ya. I thought you had left or something?
Sent ya an email a while ago but didn't hear back. probably just got slack ay or something, we all do from time to time Mate.
I like the it's only a souvenir i'm not going to grow it sir :P
 
Hey Mega it's nice to know that you got some through from Peter recently and it was even inspected because thats who I have just ordered from.
I hope they make it through I ordered the 7-pot primo orange, Pimenta Preta and Roberto's cuban seasoning pepper.
 
Micca
 
Micca tried to send you a PM but wouldn't let me.
 
The order I got from semillas included some 7Pot Primo Orange.  I can send you a few if yours don't make it through.
 
Yeah sorry Mega, i'm hopeless with keeping my emails cleaned out.
Thanks heaps for the offer too, i will definately take you up on it if mine don't make it through.
 
micca
 
Last order I received from overseas vendor had indeed changed from bubble to normal envelope inside another envelope. Not opened straight through. Received this month
 
Micca302 said:
Hey Gas how the hell are ya. I thought you had left or something?
Sent ya an email a while ago but didn't hear back. probably just got slack ay or something, we all do from time to time Mate.
I like the it's only a souvenir i'm not going to grow it sir :P
 
Hey Mega it's nice to know that you got some through from Peter recently and it was even inspected because thats who I have just ordered from.
I hope they make it through I ordered the 7-pot primo orange, Pimenta Preta and Roberto's cuban seasoning pepper.
 
Micca
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, mate, read your PM, meant to reply later on and forgot! Maaaate, I tell ya, I have been super slack lately. Can't deny that one.... ;) Will drop you a PM in a sec.
 
Heey... how could you even suggest that I might be inclined to grow my "souvenirs"?? :snooty: I'm starting a chilli seed collection! Gonna get a fancy album with little clear sleeves and eveything....... :D
 
Hahahaha yeah that's it i'm building a Chilli album. Man i would have 2 albums worth already!
No probs with the messages Gas I get pretty damn slack myself!
 
micca
 
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