APHIS reopens comments period on citrus shipments

APHIS reopens comments period on citrus shipments The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plans to reopen the comment period on the March 2007 interim rule that restricts the interstate movement of most Florida citrus plants to include one more species of citrus.
   Citrus canker rules are meant to prevent the spread of citrus canker, a contagious plant disease that could impact production in other citrus-producing states. The disease causes lesions on the stems, leaves, and fruit of citrus plants.
   The comment period will be reopened to consider further restriction of Florida citrus shipments to include calamondin plants. Calamondin and kumquat plants have not been part of the shipping restrictions. But officials say that inspectors have found citrus canker on calamondin plants during nursery inspections.
   Citrus shipping restrictions have been in place since an interim rule was implemented in 2006. That rule was changed last March because the 2006 interim rule could have been interpreted as allowing the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock if specified inspection and decontamination procedures were met.
   The rule being reviewed is separate from another APHIS interim rule published in November 2007 that pertains to the quarantined areas of Florida.