USDA moves to certification for imported plants

USDA moves to certification for imported plants    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will amend its regulations to create a certification program for imported plants.
   In specific, the certification will cover sites that produce geraniums and other garden plants in countries where Ralstonia solanacearum is known to exist. This pathogen causes potato brown rot and, if established in the United States, could have a devastating impact on potato production, USDA warned.
   The certification program will require the registration and certification of production sites, regular testing for Ralstonia at the sites, and use of phytosanitary certificates for shipping to the United States.
   USDA said it will take comments from the industry regarding the certification program through June 22. To file comments online (reference: Docket No. 03-019-2), go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions.