APHIS to Pilot Foreign Greenhouse Certification Program for Imported Plant Cuttings
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will test an "offshore greenhouse certification program" for plant cuttings that could help mitigate pest risks for imported plants, the agency said in a June 26 bulletin (here). The initial six-month pilot will…
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begin in October and include "greenhouse facilities in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Colombia that produce generally admissible, unrooted vegetative cuttings for import" into the U.S. The agency will use the pilot to test whether such certifications help reduce pest and disease risks for plant cuttings, it said. "APHIS will inspect and certify participating facilities this summer," it said. "For the duration of the pilot, facilities must adhere to the requirements outlined in the pilot framework. The pilot framework includes standard plant pest exclusion procedures, sanitation and traceability protocols, a summary of the greenhouse certification process, an explanation of how shipments will be handled at U.S. ports of entry, and next steps after the pilot’s conclusion in March 2018." The agency requested public comments within 30 days on the framework (here) about any changes that might be necessary before the test begins.