Then when it came to issuing CITES & Phytosanitary certificates the issuing body did not even inspect the plants before issuing a plant health certificate......just as well they did not charge for such "junkbond" paperwork. What of the various importing countries around the world that accepted this ......?
From personal experience upon arrival at terminal 2 Charles de Gaulle Airport I can report that declaring your import of orchids to French Customs was a waste of time & energy. We were waved on without inspection of plants or documents. In Australia we had wasted time & considerable money obtaining a Phytosanitary certificate that was at that point rendered useless.
Despite this there were many good points about the show itself & the organisers can be proud of the show & just disappointed about the way the authorities conducted themselves in their backup policeman role. Based on recent experience of US customs & Fish & Wildlife inability to clear shipments of plants in less than 40 days Miami organisers will have an impossible job competing with Dijon. Exporters to USA should be warned that current time frames for inspections are unrealistic & not even experienced in third world countries. I trust the "Fathers of the U.S. Orchid Industry" can sort this out before the next WOC.
Murray Shergold Easy Orchids Australia
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