Treatment proposed for South American raw eucalyptus products

Treatment proposed for South American raw eucalyptus products    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has proposed new treatment rules for imported eucalyptus logs, lumber and wood chips from South America.
   The agency said raw eucalyptus products should be fumigated with methyl bromide or heat treated prior to importation to the United States. The agency also proposes to allow imports of eucalyptus wood chips treated with surface pesticide.
   In recent years, South American countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, have encouraged plantings of fast-growing eucalyptus trees.
   Since this type of imported wood is relatively new to the United States, APHIS said it would be necessary to implement an “adequate level of protection against the introduction of plant pests potentially associated with eucalyptus.”
   The agency will take comments about the proposed rule through Nov. 14. For more information, contact Hesham Abuelnaga at (301) 734-5334.