USDA Soil Sample Permits

Soil and Plant Laboratory, Inc. is a certified Laboratory, authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture to receive samples from foreign sources. The procedure for shipping foreign samples is simple but the following procedures must be complied with. Otherwise the samples will be confiscated and destroyed.

You may download the following files:

1. SOIL PERMIT No. S-49416


2. PPQ-550 Permit Stamp/Shipping Label

for your use. It is always useful to contact Dept 56-1, International Division, attn: William Duran Jones to clarify any doubts or uncertainties regarding your sample shipment.

For all sample shipments, include the following documents:

With the Airway Bill:

1. Copy of Soil Permit No. S-49416


2. Original country of origin, Phytosanitary Certificate


3. Commercial Invoice, depending upon your local in country requirements. Usually, a value of $ 0.00 or NO Commercial Value is satisfactory. Otherwise indicate a value of U.S. $5.00.

On the outside of your cardboard box: Affix the Shipping label/ Soil Permit PPQ-550 on each box which you ship.

Inside the cardboard box, include a copy of:

1. Soil Permit No. S-49416


2. Copy of Phytosanitary Certificate, specifying country of origin and certifying that all samples will be disposed of in accordance with U.S.D.A regulations.


3. Sample Submittal Form

You may contact us at any time via email at: soillaboakhurst@sierratel.com