USDA to amend demands for bellflower import from Denmark

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to amend the plants for planting regulations to allow bellflower (Campanula spp.) plants for planting in approved growing media from Denmark into the United States. The proposed rule would require that bellflowers be grown in approved growing media and produced using a systems approach. APHIS scientists have determined the measures in the proposed rule would ensure the safe importation of bellflower plants in growing media and protect the United States from introducing plant pests.

The Code of Federal Regulations (7CFR Part 319.37-8) describes the science-based systems approach required to produce bellflower plants for planting in approved growing media for importation from Denmark. These are researched and established pest mitigation measures required by APHIS for all plants for planting in approved growing media that are authorized for import into the United States.

The systems approach described in 7CFR 319.37-8 requires that plants be grown solely in a greenhouse using appropriate sanitary measures to exclude plant pests from establishing there, requires phytosanitary inspections of the plants, and oversight by the national plant protection organization (NPPO) for Denmark in the form of a written agreement with APHIS to enforce all requirements of 7CFR 319.37-8. Approved growing media are listed in 7CFR 319.37-8.

APHIS will consider all comments received on or before August 21, 2017.

You may submit comments by either of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0051.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2016-0051, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0051 or in the reading room, which is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, call (202) 799-7039 before coming.