For fellow Canadians planning on getting an import Permit the phone number has changed. New phone # is 613-221-3835

Here is the link for the online Permit Order Form
http://active.inspection.gc.ca/tech/pdf.asp?v9plac5256e_re

Expect up to 10 business days to get the paperwork done.

They do ask certain questions like:

Is it a plant with Novel Traits

Is it commercially Packaged

Is it Rooted

Is it In Soil

Does it Require a Pest Risk Assesment

Fig variants coming from Continental US to Canada do not need a permit. Thus if fig plants are coming from Hawaii, a permit is needed. If not, the only requirement is phyto certification. I had many hoops & differing info from CFIA inspectors here & border inspectors until I wrote to CFIA Ottawa for help.

Thus when I brought in my 1st shipment in 2007, the border inspectors asked for my permit and I showed them the email I had from CFIA Ottawa. No problems. I am currently working on where I can get phyto certification in Washington state, somewhere close to US border where I can have plants from fig friends certified. This is another run around. I wrote to USDA and they refer me to an expert on shipping. Any advise from fig friends in Washington would be appreciated.

Last season if memory serve me correct ( im getting forgetful it seems ) i was told to put on custom form sending to Canada simply "sterilized wood" anyhoot fig package made it fine to the person.
Recently and excuse me for verring off subject please i sent a 15 year old pipe tobacco tin sealed still to China and was claimed collectable tin and person received it .

In California, the Phyto certs are handled by individual county Ag people, on behalf of the state Ag people, who are doing it on behalf of the USDA people. Getting and import permit for material coming into the Us is the same. You apply to USDA, they send it to the sate, and the state sends it to the county, and then the process reverses.

If Washington is similar, then you need to talk to a county person near where you live. Shipments into Washington also need a cert.

Dieseler
What you described is for sending cuttings and it makes it to Canada. However, live plants with roots (dormant or green) don't go in envelope size packages and require proper documentation to pass through.

Thanks Jon. Would check on it.

Depending on who you speak to at the canadian food inspection agency you will get a different answer. Basically for you to import a plant legaly from the continental US you need atleast a phyto certificate that alone should be enough. I was told yesterday that something changed in may of 2009 but I was told that bonzai plants do not require an import permit from the US but Orchids do, they didnt know about figs.

Since I have the email of the person in CFIA,  I am going to write him for updates for fig plants

Paully this was I got emailed this morning. Again they mention the Phytosanitary is Required but nothing about an import Permit.

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the importation of a Fig Tree from
the United States into Canada.

According to the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS): If
the Fig tree was propagated and grown in California but the plant is
being shipped to you as a rooted plant with media a phytosanitary
certificate is required.

Import Details for Requirement : 51360 Version : 6
HS Description : 060290
06 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers
and ornamental foliage
02 Other live plants (including their roots), cuttings and slips;
mushroom spawn.
90 Other
OGD Extension : 002352
0023 Other rooted propagative material (include greenhouse grown) -
trees, shrubs and bushes (without edible fruit or nuts) - (nursery
stock)
52 Rubber plant - rooted plants (Ficus spp.)
Origin : UCA
US United States
UCA California
Destination: ON
ON Ontario
End Use: 05
05 Propagation (growing or sowing)
Miscellaneous: 28
28 With soil or related matter (including growing media not approved
under the CGMP)

Please feel free to refer to AIRS if the information above is not
accurate (example: unrooted vs rooted).
CFIA-AIRS is the automated import reference system of the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). It is a user-friendly,
searchable database of CFIA import requirements. Through a series of
questions and answers, the system will lead you through the applicable
regulations and policies to information on all CFIA import
requirements
for specific commodities.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/imp/airse.shtml

Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or
concerns.

Best Regards,

Ok Paully I got great news, I just spoke to them and they told me that for Ficus plants including the figs. You only need a Phytosanitary Certificate unless the plants had been in quarantine or Depending on the state then you need to get an import permit. So you were right you only need the Phytosanitary Certificate to import a fig plant into Canada.

Nelson,

Can we we that in writing from someone in the Canadian government, so that there will be a starting point for others who wish to import plants?

Maybe we can put together that info, with the relevant phone  numbers, etc. and I can make it into an info page and post all of it at Figs 4 Fun?

Jon I will do my best. I will call the lady again and see if she can email me something like that.

Jon they basically told me the same thing again and said to go on this page http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/imp/airse.shtml and type in ficus and take each step it will show you exactly what you need. Again she said import permit not required but a Phytosanitary Certificate is.