"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
In message m, Joe B.
writes
Can anyone tell me- is it possible to import plants from the USA (or
other
non EEC country)?

I'd like to order some begonias that I can't find on sale anywhere in the
UK
and I wonder if legally I can do this, or if there are restrictions that
,ake
this impossible.

It is possible, but it can be prohibitively expensive to do it privately
for small numbers of plants. You will need phytosanitary certificates
from the grower and paperwork from DEFRA for customs & excise.

Basically they have to be pretty special plants before it is worthwhile.
And if they are too rare you run into CITES restrictions and still more
expense.

Beware that some of the admin costs scale with number of species
imported (so a mixed bunch of one off plants can get *very* expensive).

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

I have never done it, but I know someone who did last year, 12 bare root
clematis cuttings, total weight under .5kg cost £12 for the plants and £360
for shipping costs!!! nothing is that special :~)
(but at least all the plants survived - and I got given one :~)))

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)