Seeds & Plants → United States

Seeds & Plants may require documentation or declaration

Details

Seeds & Plants may require documentation or declaration. Enforcement in United States carries fines from USD 300 to USD 10,000 under 19 USC § 1497 (failure to declare); 19 USC § 1592 (fraudulent entry) (ordinary personal cases are handled as civil infringements). Restricted status means compliant carriage is achievable with the right paperwork and quantities; the practical risks are seizure, duty, and delay rather than criminal liability for a good-faith traveller. Arrival checks are carried out by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving United States with seeds & plants is a separate question: restricted — Seeds and live plants exported from United States need phytosanitary certification for most destinations; casual carriage is routinely seized on arrival.

Documentation required

• Documentation may be required

Leaving with this item

Seeds and live plants exported from United States need phytosanitary certification for most destinations; casual carriage is routinely seized on arrival.

Practical advice

United States restricts import of Seeds & Plants. Personal-use retail-packaged quantities may clear with declaration and inspection but home-prepared, loose-packed, or above-personal-use quantities typically require a Phytosanitary Certificate (plants) or Export Health Certificate (animal-origin). Verify current rules with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before travel — biosecurity rules change frequently on specific commodities.

Customs authority

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · https://www.cbp.gov