Fwd: Proposed regulation

I am forwarding this message from the alpine garden group because it may have some relevance to SIGNA's seed exchange and for anyone getting seed from overseas. It may not be an ideal proposal but it seems better than having to provide phytos for each seed packet.

Note: forwarded message attached.

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  • To: A*@NIC.SURFNET.NL
  • Subject: Proposed regulation
  • From: J* F* <a*@COMCAST.NET>
  • Date: Thu, 29 Apr 2004 22:04:29 -0700
  • Content-length: 1909
The proposed regulation:
"Importation of Small Lots of Seed Without Phytosanitary
Certificates"
is now in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period.  You can read it
at:

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2004_register&doci
d=fr29ap04-10

With ourselves as a prime example, it's important to realize that only those
with a complaint to air will respond to a proposal for a new regulation.  It
will be up to us to outweigh - in numbers and in substantive replies - those
who would want a continuation of the phyto requirements on imported seed.

Please take the time to read the proposed regulation carefully (yes, it's a
drag, but it's a direct response to our requests and speaks to our needs).
Then use one of the many methods of responding, by post or email.

What to include in this response?
First, it wouldn't hurt to offer a polite thank-you for their responsiveness
to our requests ("our" being a broad term for all seed and plant lovers).

Then, write a ringing endorsement of their solution to the many problems
caused by the phyto requirements.  The regulation is not everything we would
wish for (since we want to just go back to the good ol' days of no
requirements whatsoever), but it is a workable compromise.  Remember, there
will certainly be comments from people who will insist that phytos are a
necessity: the very ones who put the requirement in place initially or
worked to have it enforced in 2001 (which is where we came in).

If you can offer specific ways in which the proposed regulation will ease
economic burdens, or add to the quality of horticulture without harming
agriculture (or the environment), so much the better.  If you can back up
any of your statements with some statistics or, even better, sound science,
that would be ideal.

If you are uncomfortable with an expansive letter, then simply write and
state your support without the song and dance.  That will help, too.

And write sooner, rather than later.  An early and overwhelming show of
support may discourage some of the nay-sayers.

You will be able to view the online comments (for now, see existing comments
on other regulations).  Feel free to correct any misinformation that may
work against us, keeping in mind that the USDA website is not a chat room,
only another way to communicate directly with our government.

I notice that traffic on Alpine-L is pretty light lately.  I hope that some
of you come in from your gardens long enough to read this and reply to
APHIS-PPQ's proposal.

Joyce


Joyce Fingerut
Stonington, Connecticut, USA
Zone 6



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