Bermuda - Obtain Import Permit for Plant Material

ProcedureEdit

Having prepared your plant nursery, contact the Plant Protection Laboratory through the contacts provide in “Office Locations & Contacts” section below to enquire the necessary certifications for the plant you are about to import. I.e.
- A plant nursery that can obtain a Nematode Certification, which is required for all rooted plants
- A plant nursery that can obtain a Virus Certification: contact the Plant Protection Laboratory to determine whether the plants you want to import require virus testing.
- A plant nursery that can obtain other plant disease certifications as required.
Obtain and prepare the necessary required documents as advice by the Plant Protection Lab
Get your suppliers details and download the application form through the Government of Bermuda website: Website or directly via this link: Application Form
Fill the application form with accurate detail and attach all the required documents to avoid inconvenience
Pay the application fees as per genera of you intended shipment and obtain prove of payment.
Submit the complete application to the Plant Protection Laboratory including the prove of payment for verification
The Plant Protection Laboratory will assess the application to ensure all documentation has been provided and upon satisfactory assessment, the will process and issue the importation permit.

Required DocumentsEdit

Complete application form
Nematode Certification
Virus Certification
Disease certifications
Payment receipt

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Plant Protection Laboratory:
Botanical Gardens, 169 South Rd., Paget, Bermuda DV 04
P.O. Box HM 834, Hamilton, Bermuda HM CX
Phone: (441) 239-2322
Fax: (441) 232-4866
Email: [email protected]

EligibilityEdit

Citizens and residents can apply for the permit as long as the plant meet the entry requirements
Following are prohibited entry;
- Any plants or propagating material thereof which can be grown true and readily from seed.
- Althaea, all propagating material except seed
- Carrots in raw untreated state (seed permitted)
- Citrus spp., all propagating material except seed
- Corn (Zea mays) and sorghum, all raw parts except loose grain
- Carnation (Dianthus spp.), all propagating material except seed from England
- Hibiscus spp., all propagating material except seed
- Sweet potatoes, morning glories (Ipomoea spp.), all propagating material except seed
- Bananas, plantains (Musa spp.) excluding fruit
- Oleander (Nerium spp.), except seed
- Palma
- Soil

FeesEdit

Importation fee

1-10 genera: $35
11-20 genera: $55
20+ genera: $75
Same day service—only applicable to permits for up to 10 genera: $75

Commercial farmers are exempt from fees to import plants and/or food crops

Inspection fees:

1 box equivalent to less than 300 bedding/nursery plants/or 500 cuttings/or 100 orchids: $26 per box
Testing of incoming materials at time of entry as required: $100
Re-inspection of infested shipment after treatment as required: $50
Disposal fee of contaminated plants and/or packaging: $50

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Application form: Application Form

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Complete applications will be processed within five working days while same day permits should be completed within 24 hours. However, Applications containing plant material which have never been imported will require more time to process.

InstructionsEdit

Applications to import plants may be delayed if all the necessary documentation is not provided.
Applications to import plants will be denied if the plant material is invasive or prohibited entry as per legislative or quarantine concerns.

Required InformationEdit

The quantity of each plant sought to import
The name and address of the supplier
Your name, address and contact details
Mode of Importation
Signature

Need for the DocumentEdit

This permits proves that you have been allowed to import plant material and without it, your shipment may be denied entry

Information which might helpEdit

When the plants arrives in Bermuda the plant shipments must be collected from H.M. Customs at the airport freight shed and transported directly to the Plant Protection Laboratory (PPL) for inspection. NOTE: It is your responsibility to have the plants delivered to the PPL as well as the accompanying phytosanitary certificate.
You can either transport the plant shipment in person or hire a freight delivery company to do so. In case you are making the delivery of the plant shipment from the Freight Shed, you will have to first apply for, and obtain a Release Form Form from the PPL.
After the shipment is inspected, the PPL will contact you to inform you of the status of the plants. Depending on the condition of the plants, you will be notified as to whether the plants have passed inspection.

Possible outcomes of the inspection are:

The plant shipment has arrived without the original phytosanitary certificate. The shipment will be detained pending arrival of the necessary documentation.
The plants pass the inspection and are released.
The plants do not pass the inspection and require chemical treatment. A treatment will be recommended. If the treatment requires use of pesticide(s), it is the responsibility of the importer to purchase the pesticide(s) and to apply the chemical treatment.
The plants do not pass inspection and are confiscated and destroyed.

NOTE: All plant material arriving in Bermuda must be accompanied by an Import Permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection and a Phytosanitary Certificate issued in the country of origin. Imports arriving without these papers will not be accepted.

External LinksEdit

Government of Bermuda: Government of Bermuda

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.