APHIS Phytophthora ramorum regulatory strategy for nurseries

Abstract

A review of the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulatory response to Phytophthora ramorum is presented as it impacts nurseries and the nursery industry. The Agency responded in 2004 with three Federal Orders, each more restrictive than the previous one because the appropriate response called for a more robust program. The most recent response was a result of over two million host plants from infested nurseries being shipped over a one-year period to more than 11,000 locations. Consequently, APHIS is working with stakeholders to design and implement the most effective program possible for the future. Some of the initiatives described in detail are the Trace Forward Protocol used at those nurseries which have received nursery stock from another location and the Confirmed Nursery Protocol used at nurseries found with infected plants. Looking forward, APHIS is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to harmonize approaches to the disease. Among the strategies under consideration for harmonization and implementation is a nursery "clean stock program" with a module inserted to assure freedom from P. ramorum.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the sudden oak death second science symposium: the state of our knowledge

Citation

Jones, Jonathan M. 2006. APHIS Phytophthora ramorum regulatory strategy for nurseries. In: Frankel, Susan J.; Shea, Patrick J.; and Haverty, Michael I., tech. coords. Proceedings of the sudden oak death second science symposium: the state of our knowledge. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-196. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture: 45-46