Greenhouse Certification Program Stakeholder Meetings in Florida, August 5 and 8

Please join the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for one of two informational meetings on the proposed changes to the U.S.-Canada Greenhouse Certification Program (GCP). The meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 5 and Friday, August 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the locations listed below. Attendees can learn more about the proposed changes, find out how the new requirements might impact current GCP participants, and ask questions. Additional informational meetings, which will be conducted via webinar, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, August 5, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
UF/IFAS/Mid-Florida Research and Education Center
2725 South Binion Road
Apopka, FL 32703
Tel: 407-884-2034

Friday, August 8, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Miami-Dade County Extension Center
18710 SW 288 Street
Homestead, FL 33030
Tel: 305-248-3311

APHIS and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are seeking feedback on the proposed revisions to the GCP. The draft Technical Requirements document and additional background information is available from the APHIS Web site at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/gcp. The document outlines the responsibilities of the participating facilities and of APHIS and CFIA under the revised GCP.

Stakeholders are asked to provide feedback on the revised Technical Requirements by September 2, 2014. Please submit any comments in writing to: RCCPlantProtection@aphis.usda.gov.

If you have questions about these meetings, please contact Ms. Zaida Ortiz, Trade Specialist at 407-825-4232 or Mr. Rudy Castaneda, Export Certification Specialist at 305-492-1837.

We hope to see you in the meetings. Thank you for your participation.