USDA Control of Plant Movement Across State Borders

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• Subject: [GWL]: USDA Control of Plant Movement Across State Borders
• From: Conrad Richter conrad@richters.com>
• Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 18:23:40 -0500
• List-archive: <http://topica.com/lists/Gardenwriters/read>

Hi all, 

This is disturbing for those of us who are in the business of shipping
seeds and plants to the U.S. and across U.S. state borders.  Apparently,
the USDA is seeking to regulate the movement of plant material -- even
non-living material such as dried herbs -- across state and national
borders. Here is an extract from David Theodoropoulos of the
"no-whitelist" coalition. 

The initiative is in addition to the USDA's current plan to require
phytosanitary certificates for seed shipments into the U.S.  Already
some Canadian seed exporters have been hit by the new phyto initiative
even though it doesn't come into full effect until July 22, 2002. 


Conrad Richter

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   Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 18:51:46 -0800
   From: "D. Theodoropoulos/S. Calkins" <dtsc@rahul.net>
Subject: USDA proposal.

Folks,
     An important deadline is approaching - the public comment period for
the USDA Draft Action Plan for the Noxious Weeds Program is March 29th. This
plan includes the white list (clean list) proposal, plus serious new
restrictions on interstate movement of all plant materials - even clean dry
medicinal and culinary herbs. Interstate movement will require federal
permit and certificate of inspection - this will SHUT DOWN seed exchanges
such as the Seed Saver's Exchange and others. This is very serious stuff. In
spite of the fact that the USDA received 8 to 1 negative comments on the
white list, they are ignoring the clear will of the American people and
going ahead with it. They just won't take "no" for an answer. It is this
kind of arrogant authoritarianism on the part of bureaucracy that creates
ill-will in the public at a time when we should all be pulling together to
find solutions to the important environmental problems facing us all. The
USDA is a huge agency, and does lots of good in many areas - it is terrible
to have one out-of-control regulatory branch discredit the whole agency.
(Remember the "Organic Rules" fiasco of a year or two ago?) We need to
contact our representatives and send the USDA our comments opposing this.
You can find links to the Draft Action Plan, info on who to comment to, a
sample letter, links to your representatives, etc., at:
http://www.jlhudsonseeds.net/USDAComment.htm
     It is important to send 4 hard copies to:

Docket No. 01-034-1
Regulatory Analysis and Development
PPD, APHIS Suite 3C03
4700 River Road, Unit 118
Riverdale, MD 20737-1238

      Please check the link above and get the word out - post to gardening
and medicinal plant lists, etc., let plant societies and other know about
this. This is the time to use the internet for what it is really good for.
Everyone who deals with plants will be affected - even dried flower growers
will need permits and certificates of inspection to ship.

D. Theodoropoulos, Moderator and Science Advisor to the No Whitelist
Coalition.


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