Fwd: Ban on plant imports from US to EU

Note: forwarded message attached.


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--- Begin Message ---
  • To: A*@NIC.SURFNET.NL
  • Subject: Ban on plant imports from US to EU
  • From: James Waddick j*@KC.RR.COM
  • Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2006 16:57:57 -0500
  • Authentication-results: mta114.sbc.mail.mud.yahoo.com from=KC.RR.COM; domainkeys=neutral (no sig)
  • Content-length: 1416
Dear friends;
Following up on a note from Adam Fisko and a confirmation from NARGS' Joyce Fingerhut, I can report a recent development:


From Adam:
As of late last week there is a moratorium on shipping ANY PLANTS to any EU country, including the UK! Right now no state inspectors are allowed to provide phytosanitary certificates for any plants from anywhere in the U.S. to EU. S o this has virtually shut down the nursery industry to overseas shipping to EU countries. (We can still ship to Russia.) In addition, EU
have re-classified irises from dormant bulbs to 'herbaceous perennials', with restrictions so limiting that no one can meet their requirements. EU claims to be afraid of some virus getting into their countries . . . .

At any rate, the USDA is apparently working diligently to come up with some workable solution, but could take some time. So we are on hold until we hear more.


And from Joyce:
According to Arnie Tschanz, at APHIS, and Lois Ann Johnson, at the PPQ western branch (whom I also consulted because of the upcoming International NARGS meeting, with its plant sale), the EU says:
- No herbaceous perennials.
- Deciduous trees/shrubs must be dormant and free of leaves - so, at the moment, that lets them out, too.
- Evergreen trees/shrubs are acceptable, except (by the EU's general rules):
Abies, Cedrus, Chamaecyparis, Juniperus, Larix, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga, Tsuga.
Which all obviously sorts out to: NO PLANTS, Period.

According to these sources, Seeds are not restricted entry to the EU. And the Small Lots of Seed, which need no phyto, should be especially easy to send.

As for the reasons, and the background: APHIS misinterpreted a EU directive and thought that a mitigation program for white fly (which carry the virus) was EITHER a pest-free region OR a treatment, when it was actually one AND the other. The result: packages arrived in the EU with white fly, and they went into a snit.

APHIS is working on a response to this ban.


Hope this give any US shipper a heads up for the immediate time and see how long before this is cleared up. Please cross post as needed to other plant interest groups.

Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +

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