Is It Illegal to Send Seeds in the Mail (Answered)

Gifting seeds to a plant lover friend sounds like a great idea. But the real question is whether it can be mailed. What if it’s illegal to send seeds through the mail?

So, is it illegal to send seeds in the mail?

Sending seeds in the mail is not illegal if the seed itself isn’t illegal. However, sending seeds overseas requires phytosanitary certificates in most countries. There are also rules and regulations on how seeds are to be shipped. If they are followed only then you can mail seeds.

That was only the preview of the whole discussion. Read along to find the details about the whole topic.

So, let’s begin! 

Sending Seeds in Mail: Legal Or Illegal?

As we mentioned before, sending seeds by mail is not illegal. But the seed itself has to be legal. 

For example, you can’t send cannabis seeds by mail in just any country. Regular seeds are allowed to be shipped but they must go through legal procedures. 

Most of the countries allow seeds to be transported from different countries. But they require a phytosanitary certificate.

It’s is an official document that is given by a country’s agricultural department. It ensures the plants or plant seeds that are to be mailed are safe for shipping.

Why Sending Seeds in Mail Can Be Harmful?

Many people share this concern about why seeds can’t be sent by mail. There is scientific and logical reasoning behind this. Hopefully, this section will clear out your confusion about them.

1. Habitat Region

When we talk about plants we also see their habitat regions. Not all plants can be grown in different environments. 

You might fancy an indigenous plant and wish to plant it in your backyard. But doing so might bring drastic change to your garden, even the whole area. 

Plants have their own ecosystem. They are used to the native regions where they naturally grow. Due to modern technology, we can plant more species than before in different regions.  

But that’s not applicable for all plants out there. Not all plants can grow in different environments.

2. Change in Ecosystem

A new plant’s presence can bring change to a lot of things. It can change the soil and affect other plants planted near it. 

There can be diseases from the newly brought plant that may contaminate other plants around it. This may bring disaster to the existing ecosystem.

3. Pests and Insects

Plants attract pests and insects. It’s another reason why you shouldn’t mail just any seed to a different region. It can attract new types of insects and later cause an infestation in your area.

These are the factors why sending seeds have to go through legal processes. By inspecting how their existence can affect the environment, the decision is taken.

How to Send Seeds in Mail?

Now, you might still want to send seeds by mail. But as mentioned, sending seeds via mail has to be done by maintaining a proper order. 

There are some guidelines for sending seeds by mail. The preparation for mailing dry seeds and wet seeds is different. 

Here’s how to prepare them for mailing-

Dry seed

Put the seeds and it’s packaging in a zip-lock bag and seal it properly. The packaging material should be weatherproof. 

That’s why we recommend you to use these products for packaging dry seeds-

Place everything in a mailing envelope. The envelope must contain the mailing label. Include your name, address, and contact info, and other required information.

Wet Seeds

Preparing wet seeds for mailing is more complex than preparing dry seeds. Wet seeds may develop themselves while it’s in the package.

So, its growth must be taken into account while preparing the package. Plus the packaging must be done in waterproof materials. 

These are the waterproof packaging materials we suggest for the packaging-

The material must consist of waxed craft paper or tar-centered paper. If you’re looking for such papers, we suggest you use these products-

If they’re not available, use equivalent plastic wrap or liners. But make sure the plastic liner is safe for plants. The materials must not weaken with the moistures. Also, make sure that it protects the seed from injury or death. 

Once the packaging is done put everything in a mailing envelope. Include names, mail addresses, and other required information about the sender and receiver. Now, you can mail them to their destination.

What to Do If You Receive Seeds in Mail

There are risks in putting a new seed in an inhabitant area. If you’re not sure about the aftermath, send it to the local agricultural institution. 

They can check the facts for you. In the U.S. internationally sent seed packaging must go through such protocols.

Here’s what to do-

Don’t open the packaging, don’t plant any seed. Keep it the way you received it. Send it to your local agricultural office.

If the packaging is opened, place the seeds and packaging in a sealable bag. Seal the plastic bag properly and put it in a mailing envelope.

Send the packaging to your local agricultural office.

This way, you can be sure that the seeds will not harm your environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can seeds be sent to Europe?

Answer: Seeds can be sent to Europe only if it has a Phytosanitary certificate. It takes a minimum of two weeks to obtain the certificate. The cost per shipment is a minimum of 125 euros.

Question: Can airport scanners detect seeds?

Answer: A small flat bag of seed goes undetected by an airport scanner. If there’s more than one packaging the scanner may detect them. Most of the countries allow seed transportation as long as they’re not illegal.

Question: How to pack a live plant for shipping?

Answer: Wrap the plant’s pot with bubble wraps to protect it from getting damaged. Add a collar of cardboard near the plant’s base to cover the soil. Now, put the base in a closed plastic bag and it’s ready for shipping.

Conclusion

Gotten your answer for- is it illegal to send seeds in the mail? Hopefully, we were able to assist you with our provided information. But always make sure to know about your local agricultural rules and regulations.

Until next time!