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Re: new USDA policy

Maureen,

The Hudson seed site is a tad hysterical about the issue, but
essentially correct.  The core issue, IMO, is the proposed 'clean
list' and 'assessment' for weediness, which will, if the public does
not complain loudly, go into effect at some date in the not too
distant future.  This issue is the primary focus of the draft in
question, but it is plainly stated as a future goal and provides
precedent for future action should the draft stand in its present
wording.  

The USDA has had the right to stop intrastate traffic in just about
anything, come on to your land and destroy plants and fine you a
substantial amount of money if they care to since the Plant
Protection Act was signed into law by former President Clinton in
1999.

The USDA/APHIS have - since January - started enforcing the
requirement for phytosanitary certificates for ALL imported seed. 
This regulation has been in existence for some 50 years, but not
enforced.  They announced their intent in the Federal
Register...period.  No public comment period.  The public was not
informed properly or thoroughly and all seed suppliers, seed
exchanges, gardeners who import seed and non-US seed suppliers are
now scrambling to try to figure out how to continue.  Plant
exploration expeditions have been canceled because the intended third
world countries have no ability to provide phyto. certificates, etc.,
etc. etc.

USDA's wheels of bureaucracy are grinding slowly but steadily in the
direction of more regulations, some of which will be highly
detrimental to horticulture.

I posted a rather long post on this subject a week ago Saturday in
response to the subject line: USDA Control of Plant Movement Across
State Borders.  

Interestingly enough (at least to me) that plea for garden writers to
inform themselves and write about the issue to inform the public did
not engender any response on the list.

IMO, this is a most serious issue facing those of us who love plants.
 In the guise of controlling noxious weeds, our government is
planning to close the door on biodiversity.  If we do not educate
ourselves on the true meaning of the issues and inform our readers,
the government will succeed.

Panayoti Kelaidis, Curator of Plant Collections at the Denver Botanic
Gardens, wrote an erudite post to Alpine-L that goes to the core of
the issue.  It can be found in the archives, here: 


http://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind0204&L=alpine-l&F=&S=&
P=367

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: HERBWORLD@aol.com
> 
> Maybe I've missed something on the 20 some lists I monitor but I
just heard 
> about this potential ruling today (and the comment period ends
today as 
> well).....did anyone else see this?  And do you read the same thing
into this 
> as I do? 
> 
> http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/USDAComment.htm#Clean%20list
> 
> Maureen Rogers
> The Herb Growing & Marketing Network
> http://www.herbnet.com and herbworld.com
> PO Box 245, Silver Spring, PA 17575
> 717-393-3295; FAX: 717-393-9261

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