Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed tightening regulation of imported live plants—a major vector for pests and invasive weeds. Except for a limited blacklist, any plant can currently be imported if it is inspected before export and checked for disease upon arrival. But USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) worries that better safeguards are needed. The toughest option that APHIS proposes in the 10 December Federal Register is to restrict large shipments of some plants until the agency is sure they will not spread pests or become troublesome weeds. “The potential is to greatly improve protection against invasive species,” says Richard Orr of the interagency National Invasive Species Council in Washington, D.C. Comments are due by 10 March.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
