You bring up an excellent point. You do need to make sure that seeds and bulbs are labeled as “cleared” for the US Customs. According to the page you linked to on the US Department of Agriculture, this works in lieu of the $70 Phytosanitary Certificate, and there are a number of ways to show that your seeds/bulbs are cleared. These flower markets know that they’re selling to American tourists and try to make it easy.

Here’s the (rather wordy) explanation from the US Department of Agriculture:

Q. If bulbs are precleared do I need a phytosanitary certificate?

A. Precleared bulbs must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the plant protection service of the country of origin, including an additional declaration for freedom of potato cyst nematodes from specified countries. See 7 CFR319-37-5 (a) for the list of countries.

*** Following is a list of documents that may be used in lieu of a phytosanitary certificate:

A “Copy-certificate of examination for USA”, this label or similar one used for precleared bulbs from Belgium, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Turkey and the U.K.

A mailing label titled “Flower Bulbs From Holland” bearing a “Copy-certificate of examination for USA” at the bottom, used in Netherlands only.

An invoice or other document from the Netherlands stamped with “Precleared.”

A label on mail-order shipments with the words “Pre-cleared Flower Bulbs as per Phytosanitary Certificate” with the Phytosanitary Certificate number inserted at the top right. At this time, used by one company in the Netherlands.

A special certificate from the Netherlands that lists a serial number, the scientific name of the bulb, the country of its origin, and a date on which the special certificate expires.
Bulbs accompanied by a PPQ Form 203, or a telex (Chile) that verifies the shipment has been precleared. Also, applicable CITES documents will accompany these shipments.

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But yes, tourists should make sure to choose seeds and bulbs that are labeled “cleared for US Customs”! I’ll update the post to reflect that.

Thanks!
Tom

You can read the nitty gritty customs rules here.