Instructions for completing PPQ Form 587
Application for Permit to Import Plants or Plant Products
Please TYPE or PRINT legibly to complete. You must complete all of the boxes.
1. Enter the name and street address of the person responsible for the importation. The applicant
must be a United States resident. Enter the organization or company name, if applicable. A
physical address of the facility or business is required. You may include a post office box address
in addition to the street address for mailing purposes. Enter your daytime telephone number,
including the Area Code. Enter your facsimile number, including the Area Code. Enter your e-mail
address if applicable.
2. In the first column, enter a country or countries (if from Canada include Province, if from Mexico
include State) from which you want to import the plants or plant products (the term “various” will
not be accepted). In the second column, enter the scientific (Latin) name of each plant. If you do
not know the scientific name(s), try to find out from the exporter. As a last resort, enter the English
common name(s). In the third column, enter the type of plant parts you plan to import for each
species. In the fourth column, enter the City and State of the preferred port(s) of arrival. If you do
not know the port, enter “N/A.” (Check your permit when you receive it for the approved ports.)
3. Check the appropriate box. Select “Plants for planting”, if the plants/plant parts you want to import
will be planted or sold for planting. Select “Small lots of seed” if you want to import under the small
lots of seed program (see below*). Select “Fruits and Vegetables” if you are importing fruits and
vegetables for consumption or resale. Select “Other” if the article you want to import does not fall
into any of the other categories. List the category or additional information needed to describe the
article (i.e., Cut flowers, broomcorn, etc…). * Special instructions for small lots of seed:
Small lots of eligible seed may be imported without a phytosanitary certificate with a written
permit. See the permit unit website
(http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_imports/ smalllots_seed.shtml) for help in
determining eligibility. In part #2 list the seed species and countries from which you want to ship
each species. If the list of species and/or countries of origin is long, you may enter “eligible taxa.”
By using this option, you are accepting responsibility for determining the eligibility of the seeds.
A permit is issued for taxa that are enterable with no restrictions beyond port of entry inspection. If
port of entry inspectors find prohibited or restricted seeds in your shipment, they will remove the
ineligible kinds.
4. Check the appropriate box or boxes that apply to the means of importation.
5. The applicant named in box #1 must sign the form.
6. Printed name of person who signed the form.
7. Enter the date the form is completed and signed.
If you attach additional sheets of paper, type or print PPQ Form 587, the applicant’s name, and the
company name at the top of each page.
Send the completed application by facsimile to (301) 734-5786, or mail to:
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Permit Unit
4700 River Road, Unit 133
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236
Call our automated phone number at 1-877-770-5990 if you have questions.
