Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623
USDA ESTABLISHES CUT FLOWER IMPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTRIES WHERE CHRYSANTHEMUM WHITE RUST OCCURS
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2007--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that it has established specific requirements for the importation of cut flowers that are hosts of chrysanthemum white rust from countries where the disease is known to occur.
To be eligible for importation into the United States, the flowers must be grown in a registered production site and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate or equivalent documentation issued by the national plant protection organization of the country of origin or its designee. The certificate must also contain an additional declaration stating that the place of production as well as the shipment have been inspected and found free of chrysanthemum white rust. APHIS is also requiring box labels and other documents accompanying shipments of cut flowers be marked with the identity of the registered production site. In addition, APHIS-authorized inspectors must be allowed access to production sites and other areas necessary to monitor the chrysanthemum white rust-free status of the site. Cut flowers that do not meet these conditions will be refused entry into the United States.
APHIS selected these measures, among others, to effectively mitigate the risk of introducing plant pests, such as chrysanthemum white rust, into the United States.
Chrysanthemum white rust is a serious disease of chrysanthemums caused by the fungus, Puccina horiana. Plants for propagation as well cut flowers are considered the primary pathway for the introduction of chrysanthemum white rust.
The final rule is scheduled for publication in the April 3 Federal Register and becomes effective May 3.
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