bringing seeds home

[coffee time]

we're going to the states in a few weeks and was wondering if it is legal to bring seeds back home myself? i know you can order them online but as i'm going there i just wondered thanks

[carlseawolf]

if your not sure then post them from the states to yourself.

[quark1]

Can I bring food into the UK?

The above details some bits - including the fact you may bring in 5 packs of 'retail' seeds.

Guess you could always split the rest into groups of 5 and send separately and at intervals?

Lots of other web pages for things like defra etc on it also - looks like a useful start point for guidance - but check how up to date the info is before spending big wads of cash.

[coffee time]

thank's wolf and quark for the help. i've spoken to defra and the 5 packets of seed applies to veg seed which they say you need to check about as lots of them are illegal so it's hunt seed catalogues then check out with them. thank's again

[smallblueplanet]

...i've spoken to defra and the 5 packets of seed applies to veg seed which they say you need to check about as lots of them are illegal....

I wonder which are illegal, is there a list?

[pigletwillie]

To prevent bringing home bean weevils and the like I always only ever bring home packets of commercial seed and just hide them all over my luggage. Pleading ignorance is my defence if stopped.

Coming home from France last year several pots of French Tarragon drew some admiring glances from the customs lady as I sped by her cabin.

[smallblueplanet]

....
Coming home from France last year several pots of French Tarragon drew some admiring glances from the customs lady as I sped by her cabin.

ROFL

......

[crichmond]

Coming home from France last year several pots of French Tarragon drew some admiring glances from the customs lady as I sped by her cabin.

Are you sure she was looking at the tarragon and not you

[veg4681]

I don't think the UK (even EU for that matter) is as highly restrictive/paranoid as some other countries like Australia and New Zealand, they even check the soles of your shoes (trainers) at the immigration point. It's not like you'd be bringing over some highly diseased seeds, more like seeds packets from the racks of standard American retailer (like your T&M and Suttons equivalent of American brand seeds). Or am I missing the point here?

[zazen999]

It's getting into the states that seems to be the problem, getting out is generally much easier...depends on the airport of course [JFK = nightmare; Newark = piece of p!55]...I'd chuck them in the luggage as PW says and don't look too guilty when passing through customs; the worst they can do is take them off you surely?????

Enjoy the trip by the way...

[shirlthegirl43]

Bung your seeds in your case and don't think twice about it. So long as they aren't self collected you should be fine. I took a whole case full of foodstuffs over to the states when we went to live (mustard, branston pickle, salad cream, beans - for other brits not just for us) and never got a second glance and they worry far more about what you are taking in.

[shirlthegirl43]

Forgot to ask - where are you going?

[zazen999]

And I always bring back loads and loads of sweeties; I am from Canada so it is the foodstuffs of my childhood...love it!

[Sirius]

Can I bring food into the UK?

This site is maintained by the British Embassy in Washington, so I would expect it to be up to date.

Zazen999 - my OH is Canadian and every trip home for him includes a stock up of Tim Horton's coffee for me - he's never been stopped in 4 years of bringing back several big tins of coffee at a time, which surprises me no end!!

[Sirius]

Ok, duh, that's what I get for being smart - just realised I duplicated quark1's link, sorry!!