APHIS Adds Cacti, Succulents, Palms and Cycads to Exempted Host List for Light Brown Apple Moth in California
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 12/23/2015 09:28 AM EST
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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2015-64
December 18, 2015
Subject: APHIS Adds Cacti, Succulents, Palms and Cycads to the Exempted Host List for the Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) in California
To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials
Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding commercially grown cacti, succulents (live plants), palms and cycads to the light brown apple moth (LBAM) exempted host list, which is posted at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/lbam
Exempt host commodities are exempt from the conditions that the LBAM Federal Domestic Quarantine Order requires for the interstate movement of regulated articles. The exemptions apply only to commercially produced commodities and are based on the pest mitigations provided through industry standards of production and harvesting and packaging practices for each of the exempted commodities. Commodities that are not produced using these industry practices remain subject to the program requirements for interstate movement.
APHIS, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and local county agricultural commissioners, maintains its survey and regulatory framework to prevent the artificial spread of LBAM to other states or trading partners. LBAM is native to Australia and has established populations in New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Hawaii. The host range for LBAM includes more than 250 plant species. A map of the federal quarantine area is at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/lbam_maps
For further information about the LBAM program, you may call National Policy Manager Richard Johnson at 301-851-2109.
/s/
Osama El-Lissy
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine