[MPWG] Fw: Greenhouse Certification Program

Wed Oct 27 08:30:44 CDT 2010

Well, the "White List" discussions this week have been interesting to say 
the least. 

The information below on the Canadian/US greenhouse certification program 
should better inform our understanding of this topic. Here are some key 
points:
It's primarily about pest management - not an invasive issue.
This is specifically regarding exchange of nursery material between the US 
and Canada.
It's an EXISTING program that is being changed.
The program has existed for more than a decade.
The explanation and announcement from USDA are included below. 
NOTE that the lists are not final (i.e., the plants currently in those 
lists may change).

This frame of reference should allow you to better understand and respond 
to the proposed program change. I encourage you to submit substantive 
comments directly to <michael.d.ward at aphis.usda.gov>.  Please be sure to 
share this information with others. 

As an aside, I am surprised and disappointed at the nature of some of the 
discussion that took place before we had the information to fully 
understand it.  The goal of this listserve is not to foment hysteria or 
deride and find fault in various sectors of the plant world, but to share 
and discussion information in a productive manner. Offensive, derisive, 
and combative discussions aimed at any of our membership are not 
acceptable.  I have a handful of people (a few of which are listserve 
members) to thank for asking good questions and helping me pull this 
information together amidst my already heavy workload this week.  Thank 
you. 

In the future, let's be more proactive and less reactive in our analysis 
of issues. 

Sincerely,
Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

Greenhouse Certification Program 

In sum: 

The Canadian/US greenhouse certification program is being changed.  The 
primary change will be an approved list of plants as opposed to the 
current disapproved list.   This went out for industry comment on 9/17. 
The details: 

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal (USDA) and Plant Health 
Inspection Service is committed to stakeholder consultations as a valued 
aid to effective decision-making. The USDA is notifying United States 
stakeholders of planned changes to the Canada/United States Greenhouse 
Certification Program (GCP) and to solicit stakeholder input on the 
contents of an authorized plant list that will replace the
list of plants currently excluded from the program. 

Please distribute this material among your associations and their members 
to reach the broadest cross section of traditional and non-traditional 
stakeholders. We encourage you to take the time to review the consultation 
material and advise your associations and their members to do the same. We 
ask that you, your associations and their members please send comments to 
michael.d.ward at aphis.usda.gov  and include the phrase "GCP comments" in 
the subject line of the email, prior to October 31, 2010. 

Background

The Greenhouse Certification Program (GCP) is a bilateral program designed 
to facilitate the movement of low phytosanitary risk,greenhouse-grown 
plants between Canada and the United States. Facilities participating in 
the GCP implement measures to ensure that eligible plants are grown, 
stored, packed and shipped free of regulated pests of concern for the 
receiving country. In return, facilities in
compliance with the GCP have increased flexibility when shipping. In the 
context of the GCP, greenhouse-grown plants are those plants commonly 
known and recognized as indoor foliage and flowering plants and those 
categorized as bedding plants intended for planting either indoors or 
outdoors.

It is recognized that due to varying climatic conditions between Canada 
and the United States not all plants produced under the GCP are produced 
in traditional greenhouses. Many plants may not be able to survive 
outdoors in cooler regions of Canada and the United States but may 
establish outdoors in warmer areas of the United States.

Current Status 

Currently, the GCP contains lists of plants that cannot be certified under 
the program. The use of ?excluded plant lists? has proven to be 
problematic in that it causes ambiguity and may lead to inconsistencies in 
its interpretation and/or application. A copy of the ?excluded plant list? 
that applies to U.S. greenhouses may be found in the document at this 
link: 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/acns/downloads/canadian_greenhouse.pdf

Planned Change

The GCP is being amended and one of the significant changes to the program 
is to replace the list of excluded plants with a list of plants which are 
approved under the program.  The use an ?authorized plant list? will 
increase program clarity and improve program compliance. The authorized 
plant list is being developed to include as many low phytosanitary risk 
greenhouse plants as possible. The list will include most greenhouse 
plants that currently move in trade between Canada and the United States 
under the GCP. The authorized plant list will clearly state which plants 
will be eligible under the GCP in both Canada and the United States. The 
same list will be used in both countries. 

The authorized plant list will include two types of plants - those that 
pose very little phytosanitary risk and those with risk mitigation 
measures that reduce their phytosanitary risk to a very low level. When 
risk mitigation measures are required, the specific measure(s)they will be 
identified in association with the specific plant on the authorized plant 
list. Examples of possible risk mitigation measures include requiring 
propagation from seed or tissue culture or ensuring that a particular 
plant is grown exclusively in greenhouses.

In recognition of changing trade patterns and changing risk 
levels,protocols have been developed to allow for the amendment of the 
authorized plant list. Participating facilities may request additions to 
the authorized plant list. The request will undergo a joint Canada/ United 
States evaluation and, if approved, the plant will be added to the list. 
If phytosanitary conditions change so that it becomes necessary to remove 
a plant from the authorized plant list, this decision will be conveyed to 
participating facilities in a timely manner.

Attached you will find: 
Proposed Approved Plant List by Family
Proposed Approved Plant List by Genus
Protocol to Request Additions to the GCP Authorized Plant List
Application for the Addition to the GCP Authorized Plant List
Protocol to Remove Plants from the GCP Authorized Plant List 

Michael D. Ward
Senior Accreditation Projects Manager
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
michael.d.ward at aphis.usda.gov

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