Just found out that my latest NALS seed exchange order is likely to be my last. Australian Biosecurity rules are changing and all seed imports are affected:
https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecu...

This will make it very difficult for smaller operators and seed exchanges.

Joshua they are really doing their best to keep out potential invasive and pests. Hopefully your order will make it through. It looks like it starts pretty quick here, if I am reading correctly. I think though that a tourist coming with their shoes on from another country poses a higher risk for something coming in to the country than a seed would.

I do understand why Australian quarantine works the way it does and to a significant degree I actually agree with the rules in place. There's just a few things that seem to be needlessly strict considering the risk profiles, or make it impossible for small business, enthusiasts and plant societies to work with it. They're not particularly flexible, either.

I understand it too, Joshua. Once something comes in, it is a lifetime of problems. Better to prevent for sure. But seed? Seems overall a very, very low risk import.

Australis said: Just found out that my latest NALS seed exchange order is likely to be my last. Australian Biosecurity rules are changing and all seed imports are affected:
https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecu...

This will make it very difficult for smaller operators and seed exchanges.

Oh my...

magnolialover said: I understand it too, Joshua. Once something comes in, it is a lifetime of problems. Better to prevent for sure. But seed? Seems overall a very, very low risk import.

IMHO, the risk is very, very low!Rampant ignorance/or sheer incompetence of government agencies through out the world is a much larger threat. The preservation of biodiversity requires that all of us gardeneres around the world join in efforts to maintain the gene pool. In situ preservation(protected areas) is not enough. Part of the gene pool are cultivated varieties. These need gardeners. Public gardens grow just a minimal fraction of cultivated ornamentals. So by widening to all gardens the finnancing of preservation becomes feasable. Thus alternatively a reasonable easy way to move about seeds is a better way to share this global responsability. Only a very low proportion of species are known to be invasive. These can be listed separate and banned. I as a gardener am the least interested in introducing a new invader. I have enough weeds already to add a new one. I suspect I'm a much better guardian of my property than any government inspector around. Prohibitions kill the purpose, intelligent regulations enhance them.

Arturo

I generally agree, Arturo, except this change is to stop a pest coming in with the seed, not invasive plant species (we already have an approved import list for that).

Pests ( that is higher organisms not micro-organisms) need to arrive along with seeds in some minimum numbers so as to proliferate and become a threat. I disagree about regulations that loose sight of the ammounts implied. Ten seeds inside a glasine envelope doesn't seem to me threat to anything, specially if there are no visible mobile companions. A single bug is no threat, not even two or three. Pernicious insects or other arthropods can easily enter a country along with bulk transport of goods. I doubt that serious threats come via seed exchanges. What worries me is the widespread incompetence of solving the problem, instead of simply banning. It is easy for the bureaucrat but creates many other problems, not only there but elsewhere too. Bureaucracies copy each other quickly- we've seen it during the pandemic- but are quite inept in dealing with problems itself, when the magnitude is so negligible as a seed ex packet... I'm of the kind that distrusts the over-zealous governments, they end up by backfiring at what they are meant to protect.

Arturo

Yes, Arturo, it seems the "easier" approach for governments (especially mine, which has a habit of just blocking things and people coming into the country, rather than trying to solve the problem properly) is the one they take. I've run into the problem before where they lack nuance or flexibility. It also really depends on which quarantine staff member you get - sometimes they can be reasonable and try to work out how to solve your problem, other times they just stick with the exact import case in front of them and won't help.

Ironic that some one asked what this bug is:

The thread "What is this bug?" in Ask a Question forum

You should buy as many seed packages as you can from NALS this year. Just in case.

Lucius93 said: You should buy as many seed packages as you can from NALS this year. Just in case.

I put what I expect to be my final order in last night. Things that I might have delayed until I was ready in future, or had put off because I knew I could easily get them later, I've now grabbed so that at least I have a chance to grow some of the species and hybrids I would like. The seeds will sit in the freezer for a year or two at least, but at least they will be accessible. I can't see the NALS, SRGC, RHS or other seed exchanges going through the costly and awkward process of getting a phyto certificate for Australian members.

I believe that the Scottish Rock Garden Club actually did find a work around importing to Europe from UK this year.
They had a single contact in Europe and all seed entering EU was cleared and given a phyto certificate. The person who received the "bulk" order of seed then mailed out seed to individual members.
Maybe this is an option in the future for NALS.

I'm worried I won't be able to donate to SRGC or RHS Lily Group Seed lists because import of seed to UK is changing as well.

At least the US small seed lots import permit doesn't require a phyto at this point.

Eric
New York State as far from New York City as is possible

Joshua, your lilium seeds stay good for many years in the freezer. I think it was Ed McRae who bragged of starting seed that was frozen for 40 years! The oldest seed I have germinated was 12 years in the freezer.

The caveat is the freezer must not be the frost-free type. A small chest type that requires occasional defrosting is fairly inexpensive.

Right now I have a lot of frozen species seeds that I have acquired over the years that I'm sure I'll "get around to" one of these days.

I'm really putting this out for everyone here as seed storage hasn't been discussed recently.

Good luck, one and all!

EricNY said: I believe that the Scottish Rock Garden Club actually did find a work around importing to Europe from UK this year.
They had a single contact in Europe and all seed entering EU was cleared and given a phyto certificate. The person who received the "bulk" order of seed then mailed out seed to individual members.
Maybe this is an option in the future for NALS.

I did have SRGC seeds dispatched to Spain successfully in March. So that did work! .
Now, I have to find someone willing to hand carry them all the way far south. No imports are allowed by post but hand carrying them in are not forbiden...

I'm worried I won't be able to donate to SRGC or RHS Lily Group Seed lists because import of seed to UK is changing as well.
If that falls through, the UK will stop being a hub for seed searchers worldwide... . The proof of what incompetent buraucracies envision. Why can the rest copy the USA Aphis small seeds import permit?
At least the US small seed lots import permit doesn't require a phyto at this point.

Eric
New York State as far from New York City as is possible
50 years ago I felt the same as a grad student in NYC... . Except that I chose to settle even farther away: northern Patagonia, southern hemisphere! :greengrin:
Arturo

Thanks Eric and Connie.

Maybe there can be a single point of contact for importing seeds to Australia from the NALS, SRGC, RHS, etc. in future. That would simplify things a bit, at least.

As for the freezer, already on it, Connie Have a chest freezer (not frost-free) that I use for seeds. The freezer that is built into the fridge is frost-free, though, so I avoid putting seeds in there.

Australis said: Thanks Eric and Connie.

Maybe there can be a single point of contact for importing seeds to Australia from the NALS, SRGC, RHS, etc. in future. That would simplify things a bit, at least.

As for the freezer, already on it, Connie Have a chest freezer (not frost-free) that I use for seeds. The freezer that is built into the fridge is frost-free, though, so I avoid putting seeds in there.

Feeling the frustration as well as importing Iris is no walk in the park Always a nervous wait till the process is done.

Some of the things I've seen coming out of Australia I've got to admit have me scratching my head🤔

I agree. The Aussie lot are akin to the KGB. Australis wrote.
"it seems the "easier" approach for governments (especially mine, which has a habit of just blocking things and people coming into the country, rather than trying to solve the problem properly) is the one they take. I've run into the problem before where they lack nuance or flexibility. It also really depends on which quarantine staff member you get - sometimes they can be reasonable and try to work out how to solve your problem, other times they just stick with the exact import case in front of them and won't help."
Well said.