OOOPS, ooops, ooops . . . Although I talked on the phone with the Custom office that handles importing plants and scoured the United States Department of Agriculture's www.aphis.usda.gov website on importing plants, yesterday I found that the info was apparently Incorrect. USDA's plant info phone numbers, which are listed on their website, were either disconnect or put me in a continuous loop. On the fifth try, I finally found a phone number (301-851-2046, no extension) that worked on applying for a permit to import plants (no dirt is allowed). SIMONE was extremely helpful and answered my zillion questions. EVERY plant shipment requires the permit. The process: first apply to get a Level 2 "eAuthentication Account," which allows you to fill out the PPQ Form 587 (importing plants) online. The process entails sophisticated questions, e.g. what was your paternal grandfather's occupation, what was the first international town/city you visited, etc. After you get the Level 2 clearance, you can then electronically fill-in and submit the PPQ 587 form. It takes up to 30 BUSINESS days for it to be processed. The form is straight forward. I noted that I was importing 12 rhizomes. I will continue this forum when I find out about the permit. There are a set of instructions on what to do next after one finds out if the permit was approved. SORRY about the wrong info before!
