Exporting Orchids: Check with the Proper Authorities to Secure the Correct Documentation

摘要

EXPORTING PLANTS: Question Please give me the details about how to export orchid flowers and seeds. I am in the northeastern part of India called Manipur, where 200 orchid species occur. -- Rakesh Angoin (e-mail nimoangom@yahoo.com). Answer The firststep you would have to take is to check with your local government to see what permits you will need and whether what you plan on doing meets CITES requirements. The people that issue the local permits should be able to help you with or put you in touchwith the CITES representative in your area. There is a great difference as to whether you are shipping plants or cut flowers. Flowers are easier to ship than plants. I should point out if you intend collecting flowers from the wild they arc usually of poorer quality than those grown under greenhouse conditions and often arrive in poor condition as flowers in the wild are often pollinated before they are harvested. The American Orchid Society has a free flier titled "Importing Orchids" available from theMembership Services Department, 16700 AOS Lane. Dclray Beach, Florida 33446 (telephone 561-404-2000; fax 561-404-2100; e-mail trivera@ aos.org). A .pdf file is also available on the Society's Web site, www.aos.org. -- Thomas J. Sheehan. PhD, 3823 Southwest 3rd Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32607 (e-mail tsheehan@mail. ifas.ufl. edu).