This week, it came to our attention that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had changed the requirements for the entry of chrysanthemums grown in Canada.
The Plants for Planting Manual stated:
“Chrysanthemum spp. (except seeds) from Canada must at the time of arriving at the port of first arrival in the United States, be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that must contain an additional declaration stating:
‘The plants were grown in a greenhouse nursery and found by the national plant protection organization of the country in which the plants were grown to be free of white rust of chrysanthemum (caused by the rust fungus Puccinia horiana) based on visual examination of parent stock, the plants for importation, and the greenhouse nursery in which the plants for importation and the parent stock were grown, once a month for 4 consecutive months immediately prior to importation.’
If Chrysanthemum does not have the additional declaration, then prohibit entry.â€
Willson reached out to the USDA and received verbal confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that they will be allowing releases of chrysanthemums that have the CGCP yellow sticker. Also, the phytosanitary certificate/statement is no longer required.
We have been advised that the updated USDA Plants for Planting Manual has not yet been issued, but will be forthcoming within the next few days.
We will continue to follow the situation.