APHIS Issues Proposed Rule on Import of Certain Cut Flowers from Regions Affected with Chrysanthemum White Rust

APHIS states that this proposed rule is necessary because of numerous recent findings of CWR on cut flowers from Europe that pose a risk of introducing CWR in the U.S. According to APHIS, the measures in the proposed rule are currently being applied administratively to cut flowers imported from Mexico and the Netherlands and have proved effective in preventing the introduction of CWR by cut flowers imported from these countries. Therefore, APHIS is proposing to add these mitigation measures to the regulations for all regions where CWR is known to exist.

¹Puccinia horiana Henn, a filamentous fungus and obligate parasite, is the causal agent of CWR, which may cause complete loss of glasshouse chrysanthemum crops.

APHIS Proposes Specific Production and Certification Requirements

APHIS is proposing to amend the cut flowers regulations to establish specific production and certification requirements that cut flowers would have to meet in order to be eligible for importation from a region where CWR is known to occur.

Registration of production sites and APHIS-authorized inspections. APHIS is proposing to require that all production sites in the regions where CWR is known to occur be registered with the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of the country in which the production site is located, and that the NPPO present APHIS with a list of registered production sites (which would be subject to inspections that would require APHIS-authorized inspectors and NPPO inspectors be granted access to all production sites and other areas necessary to monitor them).

Phytosanitary certificate, labeling, and documentary requirements. In addition, APHIS is proposing to require that cut flowers that are hosts to CWR and imported from any of the countries where the disease is known to occur be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of the country of origin. The certificate would have to contain an additional declaration stating that the place of production as well as consignment have been inspected and found free of Puccinia horiana. In addition, APHIS would require that box labels and documents accompanying each shipment identify the registered production site. APHIS notes that cut flowers not meeting these requirements would be refused entry into the U.S.

In addition, APHIS states that if any shipment of cut flowers is found to be infested with CWR upon arrival to the U.S., APHIS would prohibit imports from the originating production site until such time as APHIS and the NPPO of the exporting country can agree that the eradication measures taken have been effective and the pest risk within the production site has been eliminated.

Updated list of CWR-affected countries. APHIS is also proposing to amend the entries for Chrysanthemum spp. and Dendranthema spp. in the table in 7 CFR 319.37-2(a) of the nursery stock regulations to update the list of CWR-affected countries found in each of those entries so that they match the list of regions APHIS would establish in the cut flowers regulations. APHIS notes that this would ensure consistency in its regulations.

-comments must be received on or before September 6, 2005

APHIS contact - Sharon Porsche (301) 734-5281

APHIS proposed rule, including proposed list of affected countries (D/N 03-016-1, FR Pub 07/07/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-13313.pdf