APHIS to Update Entry Conditions for Imports of Beetle Pest Host Plants From European Countries

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is planning to update the entry conditions for imports of citrus longhorned beetle (CLB) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) host plants from Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, APHIS said in a notice. Those countries "have previously approved genera exempted from the category of plants Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis," it said. The exempt plants from those countries "would be admissible with the current import permit requirements with a stem or root collar diameter greater than 10 mm (0.4 inches)," it said. APHIS also plans to recognize 22 EU states as being free from CLB and ALB, but the import requirements for host plants will only change for the four countries, it said. Comments on the changes are due Sept. 16.