Failure to comply with these laws can be punishable with thousands of dollars in fines and  possible incarceration

Recently, there have been quite a few Foreign sellers showing up on eBay.  Machiela’s orchids wants to make sure our customers are well informed, and protected.   These foreign sellers are saying that they will ship the product into the USA under false packaging or labeling. They even admit (in their eBay listings) that they "do not issue Export or Phyto-Sanitary permits and the consequences of shipping and receiving these items are not their problem". THIS IS SMUGGELING, and punishable by law!  The penalties for purchasing these items will be all yours, not the shippers!   Here is an example of actual wording from an Asian exporter on eBay:

“I not do Phyto-certificate And not ship to some country is customs not aollow orchid plant please ask your local customs before bidding.If have problem with customs I not responsible.”

That, in addition to $20 shipping and 2 to 3 weeks in the box?  Is it worth the risk?  That is up to you. Violating the Lacey Act and CITES laws can come with great cost.  In addition to fines in the thousands of dollars (per EACH illegal item imported or smuggled) and possible jail time, you will also be paying legal help thousands of dollars to represent you in both Federal and State Courts.

Help the US orchid industry, BUY AMERICAN!

Here is an interesting story of an extreme case…

jonvanzile.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/OrchidNapping.105105750.html