APHIS Adds Cacti, Succulents, Palms and Cycads to Exempted Host List for Light Brown Apple Moth in California

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