I don't think so Cindy - I think it is paid by the recipient like an import duty.

Oh, ok, thanks James.

I think we were lucky, Cindy!

I can confirm that they expect the importer to pay for the treatment. I can't remember the exact figure but it ran into hundreds that they quoted me. All the handling time, apparently.

I guess we were lucky Della. And the import treatment could make for some mighty expensive seeds. That's really too bad.

I'm about to receive my first shipment of seeds, to Italy.
So I don't know about seeds, but I bought and still buy a lot of things in US.
Italian customs does something different everytime, so even if I try to be prepared, surprise is always around the corner.
Once I got a box full of candle scent samples, it was a gift from a friend.
The man at customs called me and asked me what was that, I explained to him and he was so amused, he sent the box right away.
Another time I bought some bar of soap, and customs needed me to fill a questionnaire about the nature of those, it took some weeks then I got my box, paying for that.
I guess small packets and envelopes just slip and pass, they don't check everything.
Sometimes me and my friend choose to cheat a bit and write something "innocent" on the box or on the envelope. And we use to write "gift" on it, and declare a very low value so nothing should be asked.

Never knowing what to expect makes for some suspenseful waiting! Hope your seeds make it through to you without drama.

I know of people who have turned grey waiting for their daylily fans to get through even with all the proper paperwork.