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<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008200 size=4 face="MS Mincho">While I do
understand the 'invasive plants' concern, reiterated when I drive through the
South and see kudzu climbing over 100' pine trees and choking out acres of
plants, I know the horticultural/ornamental market is driving this demand. It
has always been the desire to have plants from 'exotic' places rather than
'native' plants in one's landscape. Then even if not invasive, there are
inherent problems that come along with this, i.e., extra water in dryer
climates, pest issues, diseases, etc. </FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=4 face="MS Mincho"></FONT></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=4 face="MS Mincho">So it seems to me a companion
list to this 'white list' is a 'native plant list' that is allowed. Many
counties and some states only allow or require indigenous plant species to be
planted. Bravo, Bravo!!! This makes the most sense to me, then we can still go
to the botanical gardens to see exotic plants perhaps.
</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=4 face="MS Mincho"></FONT></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT size=4 face="MS Mincho">Notes to remember: We have
invasives that are native also. Many hybrids of native species are available for
diversity in the landscape. </FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT
color=#008200 size=4 face="MS Mincho">
<DIV><BR>Genuinely,<BR>Edward J. Fletcher<BR></FONT></EM></STRONG><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
"mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org"
<mpwg-bounces@lists.plantconservation.org> <BR><B>Sent:</B> 10/24/2010
3:53 AM <BR><B>To:</B> "mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org"
<mpwg@lists.plantconservation.org> <BR><B>Subject:</B> [MPWG] Fwd:
<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE><BR></FONT><BR><SPAN class=item><SPAN class=item><B><SPAN
class=head>"WHITE LIST" OF AUTHORIZED PLANTS (Canada and
U.S.)</SPAN></B></SPAN></SPAN>
<P class=item>The U.S. and Canadian governments are planning to introduce a
"white list" of plants that are allowed entry into each country under a joint
Canada-USA greenhouse certification program. The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are
requesting comments from stakeholders on a proposal to replace the current
list of prohibited plants with this new list of allowed plants. What this
means is that if a plant is not on the allowed list it cannot enter the U.S.
from Canada or vice versa. Many thousands of plants including many herbs will
be barred entry under the proposal.</P>
<P class=item>This change is highly significant for both countries because it
appears to be a first attempt to implement a controversal "white list"
approach to the control of cross-border plant movement. The proposed "white
list" is far more restrictive than the current "black list" of prohibited
plants that has been in place since the inception of the binational Greenhouse
Certification Program in 1996. The proposed "white list" of allowed plants
includes less than 1000 plant genera, out of over 12,600 genera of flowering
plants known to man. The current "black list" of prohibited plants has fewer
than 100 genera.</P>
<P class=item>Some suggest that the powerful anti-invasives movement in the
U.S. is behind the push to introduce "white lists" of plants that are allowed
into the country. While invasives are a problem for both countries, the new
list will affect thousands of plants already in the horticultural trade, and
will limit the introduction of new plants to gardeners.</P>
<P class=item>For gardeners, it is worth reflecting a moment on how many new
plants that you have enjoyed growing over the past 10-20 years, and how many
of them might not have been available to you had this "white list" been in
place.</P>
<P class=item>Gardeners, herbalists, commercial growers, and the gardening and
herbal media are encouraged to submit comments.</P>
<P class=note><B><FONT color=#cc0033>The deadline for comments is October 31,
2010.</FONT></B></P>
<P class=item><B>United States</B>: Email your comments to Michael D. Ward,
Senior Accreditation Projects Manager, USDA-APHIS-PPQ (<A
href="mailto:michael.d.ward@aphis.usda.gov?Subject=GCP%20Comments"
moz-do-not-send="true">michael.d.ward@aphis.usda.gov)</A></P>
<P class=item><B>Canada</B>: Email your comments to the CFIA (<A
href="mailto:horticulture@inspection.gc.ca?Subject=comments"
moz-do-not-send="true">horticulture@inspection.gc.ca</A>)</P>
<P class=item>The relevant documents, including the proposed lists of
authorized genera and families, are available <A
href="http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=Issues/documents.html"
moz-do-not-send="true">here</A>.</P><PRE class=moz-signature cols="72">--
\_\ RICHTERS HERBS
/ / Goodwood, ON, L0C 1A0, Canada
\_\ Tel +1.905.640.6677 Fax +1.905.640.6641
/_/ <A class=moz-txt-link-freetext href="http://www.richters.com" moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.richters.com</A></PRE>
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