New guidance for P. ramorum announced

From Joe Bischoff, AmericanHort:

Beginning on March 31, USDA-APHIS will begin implementing some changes to their Phytophthora ramorum domestic quarantine regulation (7 CFR 301.92). The most significant changes involve reducing the burden on nurseries within the regulated area that have not tested positive in the last three years but augments sampling for those that have.

The expanded surveying and sampling for nurseries that want to ship interstate and have tested positive for the pathogen since March 31, 2011 will involve the collection and testing of host plants, soil, standing water, drainage water, irrigation water, growing media, and potentially other articles deemed appropriate by the inspector. Previously, only plant material was tested during annual certification surveys. However, nurseries with no positive tests for P. ramorum in the last three years will no longer be required to be inspected or have the plants sampled in order to ship interstate. The updated regulations do not make any changes for the fourteen quarantined counties in California or the one in Oregon.

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