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Restrictions on Interstate Sale of Garden Plants

Dear APHIS - 

Regarding an article entitled "APHIS Pushes Through Restrictions on
Interstate Sale of Garden Plants" in North American Flower Gardener,
April 1998:

I'd like more information about how an interstate restriction on
the sale of garden plants will help stem the tide of undesirable
organisms entering a local agriculture.

While I seldom engage in transporting plants across state borders
myself, I am the moderator of an internet group made up of
individuals who do.  The topic of 'how' to bring plants into the
state or the country routinely comes up, and these people are
generally very concerned that alien species might be introduced
and may become pests.  Most of us have seen the effects of this
type of problem in our own local environs.

Unfortunately, try as wel may, there does not seem to be good
information about how to safely deal with this problem, or what
regulations exist.  Often, regulations known to exist are not
enforced.  I have routinely secured plant certicifated when I
was to transport plants acros a state line, only to have the
attendents dismiss my modest cache of 'ornamentals' without so
much as a glance.  Why 'ornamentals' would be exempt from such a
search is beyond me.  This type of experience causes the public
at large to ignore plant importation regulations and the
education they carry.

A blanket restriction on interstate trade of non-dormant plants
can only cause more gardeners to become 'smugglers'.  As there
would be no legal means for the average person to bring home a
purchased plant, they will certainly turn to conceling their
cargo and not declaring it existence.  I can't imagine that the
already 'spread too thin' staffing at check-points can detect
such action.  This would also punish those growers who have for
years worked hard to observe the regulations and provide healthy,
insect free plants for mail order or transport across the state
line.  These people, who understand the problem and are concerned
(often for their own good as well as local agriculture) are your
best allies - this treats them as the enemy.

>From my perspective, as a garden consultant working to solve our
local horticultural problems with the introduction of more
appropriate species better adapted to our local climate,  this
new regulation means we will be severely restricted in regard to
the plants we can get into our horticultural trade.  We also know
about environmental pests that can be introduced and many local
growers keep up with reports and pull plants that might be
causing a problem, refusing to sell them to the public.  It is an
educated and responsible community, and again, we're treated as
it we were careless and unconcerned.

At the very least, there should be some manner in which new
species can be imported, even if it is more difficult and
requires more restrictions.  Choosing those mail order firms
with demonstrated integrity with regarding to import/export of
plants can take the burden off of the government agencies.
These people often know the plants and problems better and have
self interest to inspire continued care.  Clearly, some sort of
'overhaul' of the system is necessary, but to be so arbitrary
will only increase the problem, not solve it.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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