Country: United States

Title: Listing and Regulation of Plants Recently Reported with Phytophthora ramorum - United States

Contact:
National <em>P. ramorum</em> Program Manager, Jonathan Jones, at (301) 734-5038

Report: On February 27, 2007, USDA APHIS published an interim rule in the Federal Register for Phytophthora ramorum (7 CFR 301.92). This rule regulates the interstate movement of restricted and regulated articles to prevent the artificial spread of this disease-causing organism from areas where the disease is established. This rule listed 105 hosts of P. ramorum. With these and other additions made since the interim rule, USDA APHIS is now regulating 117 hosts.

The purpose of this Official Pest Report is to provide notification that starting June 09, 2008 APHIS will be regulating certain new species. These actions are necessary as Magnolia figo and Cercis chinense were found infected with P. ramorum. The detection on Magnolia figo occurred within the United States and the detection on Cercis chinese occurred outside the United States. These two plants need to be regulated in order to control the artificial spread of this disease.

Nurseries operating under a compliance agreement may continue to ship hosts and associated plants including the newly listed plants. However, any other nurseries containing these newly listed associated plants must be properly inspected, sampled, tested, and placed under a Compliance Agreement by June 09, 2008, in order to be able to move regulated plants interstate.

For more information about current U.S. P. ramorum program and regulations please visit: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/pram/index.shtml  

Under IPPC standards, Phytophthora ramorum is considered to be a pest that is present (localized in California and Oregon), under eradication in Oregon and subject to official control in the United States.
 

Posted Date: May 16, 2008, 9 a.m.