APHIS Suspends Importation of Certain Wooden Craft Items from China Beginning April 1, 2005
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a notice announcing that, beginning April 1, 2005, it will suspend the importation of craft items from China that contain wooden logs, limbs, branches or twigs greater than 1 centimeter in diameter and have intact bark.
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APHIS states that this restriction will remain in place, pending the adoption of adequate pest mitigation measures by Chinese exporters.
Import Suspension Affects Artificial Christmas Trees That Meet Criteria, Etc.
APHIS notes that this import suspension will affect, but is not limited to, artificial Christmas trees with wooden trunks and trellises.
APHIS Concerned About Introduction of Certain Wood-Boring Pests from China
APHIS is increasingly concerned about the introduction of wood-boring quarantine pests into the U.S. from China through decorative and craft items. The primary insects of concern are the brown fir longhorn beetle (Callidiellum villosulum) and the Japanese cedar longhorn beetle (Callidiellum rufipenne). According to APHIS, these insects are related to the Asian longhorn beetle, which is currently being eradicated in Chicago and the metropolitan New York area.
(In January 2005, APHIS states it conducted its fourth recall in six months of wooden decorative items imported from China after the Maryland Department of Agriculture intercepted multiple brown fir longhorn beetles that had emerged from artificial Christmas trees manufactured in China. See http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/sa_phchristrees.html for APHIS December 16, 2004 notice on a national recall of artificial Christmas tree products from Polytree Hong Kong Co. Ltd, a China-based manufacturer, which affected more than 20 retailers. )
APHIS states that more information is available by calling (301) 734-7799.
APHIS Notice (undated) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/artificial-tree/suspend_wood_china.html