Citrus quarantine affects Florida

In January, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service quarantined the entire state of Florida for citrus greening. This action revises the Nov. 2, 2007, federal order that quarantined 28 counties in Florida.

Citrus greening, or huanglongbing, poses a serious economic threat because there is no cure for the disease. It does not pose a risk to human health.

The USDA order imposes statewide restrictions on the movement of all live host plants and host plant parts from Florida.

Nursery stock from areas quarantined for citrus greening only can be moved interstate “for immediate export accompanied by a limited permit that prevents distribution to any citrus-producing states or territories,” according to APHIS. The movement of fresh citrus fruit from Florida must meet certain requirements and cannot be shipped to any citrus-producing states or territories.

All citrus nursery stock produced or located within an established citrus greening quarantine area is not eligible for movement outside the quarantine area, except citrus nursery stock intended for export.

The federal order also maintains a quarantine for the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) for all of Florida along with Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and 32 counties in Texas. The ACP is a vector of citrus greening.

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For more: James Heidegger, Citrus Health Response Program, (863) 298-7777; www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/chrp/index.html.

March 2008