for USA botanists: the problem of phytosanitary certificates

[Steven R. Hill]

I would like to bring a possible action item to the attention of the
botanically inclined in the group, especially to the American audience, and
especially those not connected with the 'BIG' herbaria.  Please see below
and work on this if you are interested.  It is a good sign that this is
being re-considered!  This certainly applies to research materials.

--Steve Hill

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Docket No. 02-119-1; Importation of Small Lots of Seed Without
Phytosanitary Certificates



We are proposing to amend the nursery stock regulations to allow the
importation of small lots of seed under an import permit with specific
conditions, as an alternative to the current phytosanitary certificate
requirement.  This proposed change is necessary because several entities
that import small lots of seed-individual importers, horticultural
societies, arboreta, and small businesses have had difficulty obtaining the
necessary certificates and have been adversely affected by the
phytosanitary certificate requirement.



We will consider all comments that we receive on or before June 28, 2004.



You may submit comments by postal mail/commercial delivery, or by e-mail.



For additional information, see attached link:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html or contact:

Dr. Arnold Tschanz, Senior Staff Officer, Regulatory Coordination Staff,
PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 141, Riverdale, MD  20737-1236, (301)
734-5306.



Sincerely,

Linda C. Toran

Management Analyst

Regulatory Coordination, Plant Health Programs
------------------------------------------



Dr. Steven R. Hill (Plant Systematics)
Center for Wildlife and Plant Ecology (WPE)
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 East Peabody Drive
Champaign, Illinois 61820, U.S.A.

Phone: (217) 244-8452
Fax: (217) 333-4949
srhill at forbes.inhs.uiuc.edu
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/staff/cbd/srhill.html
http://ellipse.inhs.uiuc.edu:591/ILspecies/index.html