- Joined
- May 12, 2008
- Messages
- 69
Does anyone here know if the USDA will supply import permits to hobbyists? This relates to importing butterfly and moth eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.
Private individual are very unlikely to get a permit. See http://www.insectnet.com/cgi/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=154&forum=DCForumID5 for mre details and links.Does anyone here know if the USDA will supply import permits to hobbyists? This relates to importing butterfly and moth eggs, larvae, pupae and adults.
Oh man that picture brings me a lot of memories.SERIOUSLY? Have you never seen that button on every page that says 'search' ? This topic has been beaten to death 100 times over, and that's on this forum alone.
NO. USDA will not issue permits to individuals or your home EVER. This has only happened maybe 5 times in the past 30 years and that was because the USDA was in a pinch as to where to put plants or insects/livestock that was confiscated. If you or an institution is willing to spend the money to make a government approved holding facility, you can possibly get the permit, but an approved sealed room by my estimate three years ago can range from 22,000 to 50,000 dollars and even then you may or may not get approved. You also have to not only have the appropriate apparatus in place but have developed a handling protocol complete with resolutions and scientific documentation/references why your protocol is appropriate.
Here is what happens if you do get 'things in place' but make assumptions that you get approved and have 8 insects or eggs sent to you:
I have been up and down this road dozens of times, and the end result is that I will never import anything or even think about it, but I do have a really clean room to keep my current critters in....