Annual Facility Certification for the Ralstonia Exclusion Program

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will conduct annual certification visits to offshore greenhouse facilities (i.e. Elite or production facilities) that wish to export Pelargonium spp. or Solanum spp. for propagation (e.g. unrooted cuttings, in growing media) to the United States for the 2024-2025 season. Pelargonium spp. and Solanum spp. shipped from countries where Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (Rs R3bv2) is known to occur must be exported from APHIS approved facilities under the Ralstonia Exclusion Program (REP). Interested facilities must meet the REP’s minimum standards for greenhouse construction, security, production and sanitation, pest management, training, and recordkeeping described in the REP Framework (769.81 KB).  

Any REP participant that would like to propose an alternative way to meet the REP requirements must submit a deviation request package (see the Frequently Asked Questions section on the REP website) via the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country by October 1, 2024.

APHIS plans to physically visit and certify interested offshore facilities during peak harvest to observe program operations. Interested facilities must cover the full cost of these certification visits, including travel, salary, benefits, and overtime. The facilities will provide these funds in a trust fund established through a signed cooperative service agreement.

If you are interested in scheduling a certification visit, please send official correspondence via the NPPO of the exporting country to APHIS by September 13, 2024. For questions or further information please refer to the REP’s website and scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions or contact the program manager at POP_REP@usda.gov.