I am in the USA and have previously had seed from NASC for free – I now have a charge for Phytosanitary Certificates, why do I have to pay this?
Pre-2001, the US did not require phytosanitary certification for arabidopsis seeds. However, as part of extensive border control changes ‘post-911’ phytosanitary certificates became mandatory for arabidopsis seed coming from the UK. Each batch has to be sent away to be tested; and received back before packaging and release. This has greatly slowed our delivery to the USA (and countries that have always required certificates such as Australia, New zealand and Taiwan). Until 2008, the appropriate UK certification body kindly allowed us to be exempt from charges for these certificates. However, from 2008 onwards we now pay a small charge for certificates associated with each independent set of materials that are shipped to the US. We continue to not-charge American users for seed preparation / postage / packing until materials are available at the ABRC, at which point users should order directly from ABRC. This is partly a moral stance, and partly to emphasise the point that ABRC and NASC
Related Questions
- I am in the USA and have previously had seed from NASC for free - I now have a charge for Phytosanitary Certificates, why do I have to pay this?
- What documents are the basis for the free of charge distribution and sale of the publications of the Danube Commission?
- What happens if I cannot afford to pay for the service charge and/or nursing care?
