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United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Hemp Seeds and Plants

Last Modified: Jul 30, 2020
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USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the importation of all plants and seeds for planting to ensure safe agricultural trade.

The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis  sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof  and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids,  salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than  0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.

Below are the basic requirements for safely importing hemp plants and seeds into the United States from Canada and other countries.

Importing Hemp Seed for Planting from Canada

Hemp seeds for planting may be imported into the United States from Canada if accompanied by either:

  1. A phytosanitary certification from Canada’s national plant protection organization to verify the origin of the seed and confirm that no plant pests are detected; or
  2. A Federal Seed Analysis Certificate (SAC, PPQ Form 925) for hemp seeds harvested from plants grown in Canada. 

Importing Hemp Plants for Planting from Canada

Hemp plants for planting may be imported into the United States from Canada if accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from Canada’s NPPO to verify the origin of the plant and to confirm no plant pests are detected.

Importing Hemp Seed from Countries other than Canada

Hemp seed for planting may be imported into the United States from countries other than Canada if accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country’s national plant protection organization to verify the origin of the seed and confirm that no plant pests are detected.

Hemp seed shipments will be inspected upon arrival at the first port of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure they meet APHIS regulations, including certification and freedom from plant pests.

Importing Hemp Plants for Planting from Countries other than Canada

Hemp plants may be imported into the United States from countries other than Canada if accompanied by both:

  1. A phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country’s NPPO to verify the origin of the plant and to confirm no plant pests are detected; and
  2. A PPQ 587 permit, Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products.

More Information

For questions or requests for information regarding importing hemp plants or seeds, please contact PPQ's Permit Services by phone at (301) 851-2046 / (877) 770-5990 (Toll-Free) or by email: plantproducts.permits@usda.gov.

For information about industrial hemp production, please visit USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s website.

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