Citrus spp seed

Country
United States of America (US)
Group
Grains / Seeds
End use
Sowing
NPPO Details
Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Relevant Web Addresses
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/
Criteria Criteria Required?
Import Permit Yes
Phytosanitary Certificate Refer below
Additional Declaration/Endorsement Refer below
Protocol Market No
Consignments are to be free from pests, soil, weed seeds and extraneous material.


A copy of the import permit must be presented to an Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.
 

The phytosanitary certificate must contain the following:
  • Identify the genus;
  • If an intergeneric hybrid, then place the multiplication sign × before the name of the intergeneric hybrid;
  • If an intraspecific hybrid, then place the multiplication sign × between the names of the parent taxa;
  • If individual species or cultivars within a genus have additional restrictions, then identify the species or cultivar.
Consignments must be accompanied by packing list indicating:
  • Contents of each box or container in the consignment/shipment
  • Scientific name to the lowest plant taxon
  • The weight of the seed (grams or kilograms) or number of plant units of each plant taxon
  • References each box number on both the packing list and the physical box.
Packaging and shipping requirements

A typed or legibly printed list/invoice must accompany each shipment and must contain the name of the collector/shipper, the botanical names (genus and species) listed alphabetically, as well as the country of origin and the country of export for each taxon.

Consignments being shipped by mail or courier must be labelled as below:
  • Correctly and plainly addressed and mailed to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Program at one of the Approved Ports of Entry to receive plants for planting for import;
  • Accompanied by a separate sheet of paper within the package, plainly and correctly bearing the name, address, and telephone number of the intended recipient
  • Plainly and correctly on the outer container, have the following information:
    • General nature and quantity of the contents;
    • Country and locality where grown;
    • Name and address of shipper, owner, or person shipping or forwarding the plants for planting; and
    • Number of the written permit authorizing the importation, if one (written permit) is required under 7 CFR § 319.37-5.
Consignments being shipped by mail must bear a green and yellow shipping label (PPQ Form 508).

Consignments being shipped by other means (e.g. full containers) must be labelled on the outer container with the below:
  • General nature and quantity of the contents;
  • Country and locality where grown;
  • Name and address of shipper, owner, or person shipping or forwarding the plants for planting;
  • Name and address of consignee;
  • Identifying shipper's mark and number; and
  • Number of written permit authorizing the importation, if applicable.

Shipments that are deemed to prevent adequate on-arrival inspection or treatment (i.e. wrapped, coated, dipped or sprayed, or otherwise packaged in impermeable material) may be refused entry.

Small lots of seed permit conditions

If stated on the import permit (small lots of seed permit), small lots of seed may be imported without an accompanying phytosanitary certificate, provided that the following conditions outlined in the USDA Plants for Planting Manual in the Small lots of Seeds Permit section are met in addition to the packaging and shipping requirements outlined above.


If small lots of seeds are exported without an accompanying phytosanitary certificate as per the import permit conditions, no Authorised Officer inspection and issuance of an export permit is required for the consignment.



US may not allow entry of consignments wrapped, coated, dipped or sprayed or packaged in plastic or other impermeable material that prevent adequate inspection or treatment.

It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the phytosanitary certificate is issued within 15 days prior to shipment of the consignment. Refer to the departure date in the Request for Permit.

Explanation of the endorsements

Endorsement 1157:
  • Only to be used if stated as a requirement on the import permit. If no certification is required for citrus variegated chlorosis and Huanglongbing (referred to by the USDA as citrus greening) on the import permit, a phytosanitary certificate with no endorsement is to be issued.
  • Citrus variegated chlorosis and Huanglongbing disease of citrus are not known to occur in Australia. No supporting evidence is required for endorsing freedom from these pests.
If required by the import permit, consignments must be treated as per Treatment Schedule T203-p Seeds of Citrus (Rutaceae Family) of the USDA Treatment Manual:

Treatment: T203-p Hot water plus chemical dip
  1. Wash the seed to remove the pulp.
  2. Immerse the seed in water heated to 125 °F (51.6 °C) or higher for 10 minutes.
  3. Then, immerse the seed in a solution containing 0.525% (5,250 parts per million) sodium hypochlorite for at least 2 minutes.
  4. Drain, dry, and repack near original moisture content.
The exporter is to provide evidence attesting to the treatment and present it to the Authorised Officer at the time of inspection.


Details of treatment to be endorsed on the phytosanitary certificate in the treatment section.

Option 1 (EXDOC Endorsement 1175)
1) Citrus variegated chlorosis and Huanglongbing disease of citrus are not known to occur in Australia.
Import permits dated 11 September2015, 19 July 2021 and 16 February 2022, USDA Plants for Planting manual (pages 3-64 to 3-67) and USDA Treatment Manual (pages 5-3-44 to 5-3-45).
28/07/2022 - Amended general requirements and added treatment details based on updated NPPO requirements.
20/07/2021 - Updated general requirements to state that additional declaration is optional and phytosanitary certificate date requirements as per NPPO requirements.
Initial Uploaded: 22/09/2015
Reviewed Uploaded: 18/07/2026