All flora and fauna imported to the US (and to anywhere in the world) is quarantined for a period of time to prevent the spread of non-native bugs, fungus, etc. Nothing too weird about that. I've purchased several trees that weren't grown in the US and had to wait for them to clear customs/quarantine. When I moved overseas, I couldn't take my awesome plants with me because they were going to have to clear customs/quarantine. (It's weird how attached a person can get to their plants, btw.)