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Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623

USDA AMENDS REGULATIONS FOR SMALL LOTS OF SEED

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2006–The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has amended its regulations to allow the importation of small seed lots with import permits instead of phytosanitary certificates.

This amendment will facilitate the safe import of small amounts of seed by individual importers, scientists, horticultural societies, arboreta and small businesses. These entities previously may have had difficulty obtaining the necessary import certificates and consequently were adversely affected by the phytosanitary certificate requirement.

By removing the certificate requirement, this rule change will ensure prompt and consistent service for seed importers while continuing to protect against the introduction of plant pests into the United States. The new seed import requirements will become effective May 15.

Notice of this action is published in the April 13 Federal Register.

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