Re: White List: USDA-APHIS

**Conrad Richter conrad@richters.com>**

On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Richard Dufresne wrote:

> The APHIS section of the USDA is one of the governmental sections to be
> reorganized into the proposed Department of Homeland Security.   This
> doubtless to prevent agricultural sabotage by hostile forces.  Does anyone
> have a good searchable computer database of noxious weed candidates?  

Aside from the USDA's existing lists which are incorporated in the
Federal Seeds regulations, there is the list assembled by the National
Biological Information Infrastructure:

http://www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/main.shtml

For a taste of how extensive this list could get check the various
Australian weed lists which are quite extensive. Here's the one for
Western Australia:

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/progserv/plants/weeds/Weedsci.htm

> Anybody care to speculate how this will affectthe importing, marketing, and
> researching of new germ plasm?

Well, as you know, on July 22 the small packet exemption will end and
most seed imports no matter how small the package will be stopped unless
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate.  This is very much about
weeds and invasives because the main thing that the USDA is looking for
is proof that imported seeds are free of weeds.  (This is atypical of
what phytos normally address -- to certify that seeds are free of seed
borne diseases and soil.)

The Canadian government has been trying to pitch to the USDA a new seed
program modelled after the Canadian greenhouse inspection program (of
which Richters is a participant) whereby authorized exporters will be
allowed to ship seeds into the U.S. without the cumbersome phytos
provided they are able to comply with basic requirements for
traceability and cleanliness.  The U.S. government so far has been
non-committal and seems to be unconcerned about the havoc the July 22
deadline will create.  As it stands now most small packet shipments will
likely be stopped after July 22.

According to one of the key negotiators on the Canadian side, a push
from U.S. citizens and businesses right now would be most opportune.  If
gardeners, herb enthusiasts, plant collectors, and even researchers
could weigh in with letters and phone calls to the USDA urging it to
reconsider its hard line stance on small seed packets (typically defined
as packets under 5 pounds), the USDA may yet come to its senses and open
up to workable ideas for orderly seed imports.  I suggest directing
letters, emails and calls to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Services (APHIS) in Maryland (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/). 

To be sure the potential impact of the new proposals on invasives is
much broader than the seed packet issue to which I am referring here.
But the July 22 deadline on small seed packet imports is an immediate
starting point for stakeholders, i.e., U.S. consumers and businesses, to
let their government know that they do not want their right to access to 
imported plants and seeds taken away.

Conrad Richter

> Richard F. Dufresne
> 313 Spur Road
> Greensboro, North Carolina  27406 USA
> 336-674-3105
> World of Salvias:  http://www.eclectasy.com/gallery_of_salvias/index.htm
> Salvia email list:   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Salvia
> 
> 

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