I checked the web site for the CDFA (California Dept. of Food and
Agriculture), and it doesn't appear that there are many restrictions on
berries coming into the state. The only problem they mention is the
Caribbean Fruit Fly which is only on berries in Florida and the Caribbean.
Apparently blackberries are not considered "plague carries" by the State of
California.
Bob Blum
Behalf Of Tony and Moira Ryan
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 4:21 PM
To: OGL@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Re: Plant Import Regulations (Was Blackberry Trellises
Bob Blum wrote:
> I'm a little more trusting of people on this list. I don't
imagine anyone
> would be sending me a diseased plant. I'm not very knowledgeable about
the
> spreading plant diseases so I'd appreciate any input, but I live on the
> coast of Southern California and doubt that anyone within a couple of
> hundred miles raises blackberries.
Bob
Unfortunately even a properly-trained scientist might not in some cases
be able to confirm a plant's complete freedom from disease just by
visual inspection (see my other posting on viruses for instance) so its
not just a case of good will or otherwise in the friend who sends them
(see my comments in my other posting to Margaret).
I don't actually know (perhaps it was mentioned but I missed it) why new
material of blackberry is being excluded, but even if no other peson in
your area grows these plants it could be for some disease which is also
dangerous as well to other species. I don't think many of these
decisions to exclude are likely to be made arbitarily.
Your current seed reguations in the US which M also mentioned seem to
come in a different category to plant protection, as, if I have got it
right, I gather they were instituted in respose to the anthrax scare and
so would come under National Security instead. Purely from a growers
point of view they probably are extremely unreasonable.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
Have you ever driven a car into California? Vegetative matter is taken and
destroyed. Margaret L
The new seed regulations were put in motion before 9/11. I've been told by
people more in touch with the national scene than I that a native plant
fanatic exerted undue influence on USDA, and got these regulations adopted,
to the detriment of nursery owners, plant enthusiasts, home gardeners and
researchers working to find plant cures for diseases. The US used to permit
12 (?) plants, roots washed clean of soil, to be imported from England. No
longer. Some greenhouse plants are still allowed in from Canada, but
there's no mention of allowing seeds even from Canada. Moreover, in a
separate set of regulations that started under President Clinton, if a
plant isn't on a "white list," it may not be imported. That is supposed to
prohibit importation of plants that could become invasive in Hawaii,
California or Florida. "Invasiveness" is extrapolated to mean invasive
anywhere in the US. Why am I in this handbasket? Margaret L
Margaret Lauterbach wrote:
Margaret
Having once in my Kenya days had direct connections with plant
protection regulations I would like to most strongly second your concern
about smuggling plant parts.
One of the biggest reasons for such regulations is that many plants can
carry viruses without showing obvous symptoms, but some of those viruses
will easily transfer to other crops where they could have devastating
effects.
One example I vividly remember is Tomato Spotted Wilt, which did not
then occur in Kenya. This is a fatal disease of tomatoes which being a
typical virus cannot be treated and so well worth doing without, but it
also occurs on a wide range of other plants, mostly ornamentals, on
which it may be much less violent or even symptomless. Most importantly
it can be carried in their storage/reproductive organs by several
"bulbous" plants, including Anemones callas and dahlias.
Importing dahlias was therefore a process which required strict
quarantine in the country of origin prior to dispatch (with
certification). It could have been done also by quarantining for one
growing season with approprite testing in Kenya, but the very small
Plant Protection organization simply didn't have the facilties or staff.
What it boiled down to was a very lean trickle of new dahlia cultivars
through the big professional nuserymen only and a running battle with
the general public. I don't think enough efforts were made to educate
the latter, but a lot of non-scientific people would not have listened
anyway in their pursuit of novelties. We were often amamzed at their
ingenious methods anyway, my favourite was the woman who wore an
extra-large bra and filled the excess space with dahlia tubers
Viruses are by no means the only concern. For instance here in NZ rooted
ornamental plants may not be imported unless their roots are washed
clean of all soil, as this could otherwise transport unwanted pests or
their eggs or soil-born diseases, and even then there has to be strict
inspection of their roots and foliage and often quarantine al well for
possible hidden problems. (I admire the dedication of nurserymen who
still regularly offer new varieties from oveseas in their catalogues and
fully understand why some of these novelties have to be so highly
priced.)
While a good selection of seeds both of ornamentalss and even many
vegetables may come into NZ freely, some are prohibited because they
may become invasive and others, because it is very difficult to ensure
they are entirely free of unwanted pests or diseases, may only be
imported with proper certification. This latter requirement meant that
some bean seeds once kindly posted to me by an English List member, were
refused entry. As the doner and I both agreed that they were not worth
the certification (around a twenty pound fee) and the sender did not
need them back, the Customs dept duely destroyed them, an outcome which
though a trifle disappointing I fully supported.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
Bob Blum wrote:
Bob
Unfortunately even a properly-trained scientist might not in some cases
be able to confirm a plant's complete freedom from disease just by
visual inspection (see my other posting on viruses for instance) so its
not just a case of good will or otherwise in the friend who sends them
(see my comments in my other posting to Margaret).
I don't actually know (perhaps it was mentioned but I missed it) why new
material of blackberry is being excluded, but even if no other peson in
your area grows these plants it could be for some disease which is also
dangerous as well to other species. I don't think many of these
decisions to exclude are likely to be made arbitarily.
Your current seed reguations in the US which M also mentioned seem to
come in a different category to plant protection, as, if I have got it
right, I gather they were instituted in respose to the anthrax scare and
so would come under National Security instead. Purely from a growers
point of view they probably are extremely unreasonable.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
