Going to China, can I bring a bonsai back?

randyburtis

I will be going to china ina few months and curious if anyone knows if there are any chinese or canadian restrictions to bringing a tree on the plane home?

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midwestbonsai

Sorry I dont know a thing about Canada's restrictions about importation of trees.
I know that the US sucks for that. . .lol
I'm sure that someone will come along the knows.
-Paul

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Victrinia_Ensor

I have a girlfriend who brought home a beautiful azalea from Japan. Technically it wasn't an azalea bonsai when she brought it home because it had to come home minus the dirt and the pot was in her suitcase. She got to bring it back carry on as a bareroot. It made it ok.

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Ms. Vic

Le belle cose prendono tempo...

www.elandangardens.com

rockm

Here's a start:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english...internate.shtml

Importation of plants from Asia is a very problematic thing these days. Exports of Chinese elms in the bonsai trade have turned up with Asian Long horn beetle here in the states. That bug is a big problem for trees here in the States. Import restrictions have been beefed up here accordingly on bonsai importation.

Don't know if it's the same up there though.

ALDEVAUX

Yes, randyburtis, the canadian government as a very strict regulation act called :
Plant Protection Act
1990, c. 22

FROM : http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/P-14.8...html#section-60
Importation and Exportation

Which says :

"7. (1) No person shall import or admit into Canada or export from Canada any thing that is a pest, that is or could be infested with a pest or that constitutes or could constitute a biological obstacle to the control of a pest, unless
(a) the thing is or has been presented to an inspector in accordance with subsection (2) at a place designated by the regulations or by an inspector;
(b) the person has produced to an inspector all permits, certificates and other documentation required by the regulations; and
(c) the thing is imported or exported in accordance with any other requirements of the regulations."

So, you must contact the federal government PLANT PROTECTION office to obtain permission to import any plant material you want to bring from another country.

randyburtis

BAH, that sucks, but thanks muchly for the info, oh well

rockm

For what it's worth, this work has already been done for you. Try some of the Canadian suppliers of bonsai stock. There are a few.

Also, I doubt you will find much that's worth the trouble of importing. Bonsai in China is a spotty thing. You are not likely to find anything better there- unless you have local contacts who are bonsai professionals--than you will be able to find in North America.

Cordon

I know a lot of people complain about import restrictions, But you have to remember that they are in place for a very good reason. In 1848, phelloxrea, a root aphid, desimated the winemaking areas of europe. The culprit, plants brought from the new world. Now there are almost no viticultcultural areas without it

The potenial hazards of introducing non-native plants, insects, molds, bacteria etc. makes these importation restrictions necessary.

just a friendly reminder

Attila

You can go through less trouble and get just as good or better material in Canada.

What is worth bringing from China is viewing stones or scholars' rocks, if you can find a good deal over there. High quality rocks are very expensive here in North America, and it is worth to locate a good source in China. But you need to talk somebody who knows where to find a reliable source.