APHIS Updates Regulated Areas in Miami-Dade County for Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica, formally Achatina fulica)

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2018-16

May 31, 2018

 

Subject:           APHIS Updates Regulated Areas in Miami-Dade County for Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica, formally Achatina fulica)

 

To:                   State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

On May 1, 2017, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) removed giant African snail (GAS) regulated area Zone O from the list of quarantined areas in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Subsequently, on December 21, 2017, APHIS also removed areas Zone D, Zone Q, Zone R, and Zone U. APHIS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) collaborated to develop the protocol for removing areas from quarantine. Under the protocol, FDACS and APHIS use the following criteria to deregulate a quarantined area/zone:

• Surveillance and treatment efforts for 17 months with no detection of live GAS

• An additional 19 months of surveillance with no detection of live GAS

• A minimum of one negative detector dog survey

• A minimum of one negative night survey, when snails can be more active

APHIS determined the aforementioned areas met the protocol for removal from quarantine. APHIS and FDACS will continue to evaluate GAS-infested areas to determine when they meet the criteria for eradication and deregulation. The revised map and descriptions of the areas regulated for GAS are posted on the APHIS website at 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/giant-african-snail/ct_gas_program_info

 

For further information regarding the GAS program, please contact the National Policy Manager Andrew Wilds at 301-851-3051.

 

 

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine