Country: United States

Title: Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth): APHIS Adds Seed and Underground Crops to the Exempted Host List in California.

Contact:
Richard Johnson, National Policy Manager at 301-851-2109.

Report:

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding commercially produced seed with no additional plant material; underground crops with no remaining above ground material; and fruits of litchi tomato, eggplant, and zucchini to the light brown apple moth (LBAM) exempted host list. The exempted host list is posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/lbam.

“Exempt host commodities” are exempt from the conditions required in the LBAM Federal Domestic Quarantine Order for interstate movement of regulated articles. The exemption is applicable only to commercially-produced commodities based on the pest mitigations provided through industry standards of production, 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. New commodities added to the list are in bold font.

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. 

A map of the federal quarantine area is at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/lbam_maps   

Under IPPC standards, Epiphyas postvittana is considered to be a pest that is present: only in some areas and subject to official control in the United States.

Posted Date: May 7, 2018, 9 a.m.