News Releases and other News Material/Number 01194/0003
Release No. 0003.94
Ed Curlett (301) 436-7255
Ron Hall (202) 720-3310
USDA PROPOSES PROGRAM THAT WOULD END QUARANTINE ON CANADIAN SEED POTATOES
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3--The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to put in place a seed potato certification program that could make a federal quarantine on Canadian seed potatoes unnecessary. Because of this proposed certification program, a quarantine which had been imposed to stop the spread of the necrotic strain of potato virus Y (PVYn) would no longer be necessary.
The Canadian seed potato certification program, which resulted from a recent agreement between the United States and Canada, is called the Canada/United States PVYn Management Plan.
"The implementation of this plan would protect U.S. agriculture from potential risks imposed by PVYn, making federal regulations that apply to Canada with respect to PVYn unnecessary with regard to protection of U.S. agriculture," said B. Glen Lee, deputy administrator for plant protection and quarantine with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
The management plan calls for testing seed potatoes for PVYn in early generations and mandates the removal of infected seedlots from seed potato production.
Copies of the plan can be obtained by writing James Petit de Mange, operations officer. Port Operations Staff, PPQ, APHIS, USDA, Room 632, Federal Building, 6505 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
Consideration will be given to comments received within 30 days of the proposed rule's publication in the Federal Register. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 20.
An original and three copies of written comments referring to docket number 93-021-2 should be sent to Chief, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, USDA, Room 804, Federal Building, Hyattsville, Md. 20782.
Comments may be inspected at USDA, Room 1141 South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
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