bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Importing Bonsai Part 1/3

oh brother it's been fairly difficult to obtain the proper permit. i started my project may 2001, with the goal of importing 4 or 5 bonsai from china and japan.

i originally applied with APHIS's on-line permit. they lost this. i reapplied some months later, and finally receivied a call from Betina (?) from their riverdale MD location. she said the first application should not be theirs, but rather to "your State Department of Agriculture." APHIS kindly sent me "PPQ Form 546" and i as i live in california, i sent this to:

Pest Exclusion Branch
CA Dept of Food and Agriculture
1220 N St, Rm A327
Sacramento, CA 95814

according to APHIS, the state agency is supposed to CC APHIS after the state has approved the application, as the state has the primary responsibility over "post-entry quarantine" permiting and inspection. for the california pest exclusion branch/CA Dept of F&A, the contact is Barbara Hass (916) 654-1017, but i have never gotten to speak to her, and she has never returned my 3 or 4 voice mails.

so in the end i have no idea whether this is the correct procedure. i just thought i'd share the procedure APHIS has asked me to follow. any thoughts guys?

- john

22-Oct-2001	#4
Guest Posts: n/a	import permits & post inspection quarantine oh brother it's been fairly difficult to obtain the proper permit. i started my project may 2001, with the goal of importing 4 or 5 bonsai from china and japan. i originally applied with APHIS's on-line permit. they lost this. i reapplied some months later, and finally receivied a call from Betina (?) from their riverdale MD location. she said the first application should not be theirs, but rather to "your State Department of Agriculture." APHIS kindly sent me "PPQ Form 546" and i as i live in california, i sent this to: Pest Exclusion Branch CA Dept of Food and Agriculture 1220 N St, Rm A327 Sacramento, CA 95814 according to APHIS, the state agency is supposed to CC APHIS after the state has approved the application, as the state has the primary responsibility over "post-entry quarantine" permiting and inspection. for the california pest exclusion branch/CA Dept of F&A, the contact is Barbara Hass (916) 654-1017, but i have never gotten to speak to her, and she has never returned my 3 or 4 voice mails. so in the end i have no idea whether this is the correct procedure. i just thought i'd share the procedure APHIS has asked me to follow. any thoughts guys? - john