FLORIDA

SUMMARY OF PLANT PROTECTION REGULATIONS

Updated October, 2002

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Division of Plant Industry

Post Office Box 147100

Gainesville, Florida 32614‑7100

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/\~pi/index.html

NURSERY STOCK, QUARANTINES, APIARY AND WEED REGULATIONS

Richard D. Gaskalla, .Director (Nursery, Quarantine, Apiary, Weed
Regulations)

Phone: (352) 372‑3505

Fax: (352) 955‑2300

Email: gaskalr@doacs.state.fl.us

# NURSERY STOCK DEFINITION

All plants, trees, shrubs, vines, bulbs, cuttings, grafts, scions, or
buds, grown or kept for or capable of propagation or distribution,
unless specifically excluded by the rules of the department.

# GENERAL SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS

Any person, nurseryman, stock dealer, agent, or plant broker who desires
to ship into this state nursery stock from any state, territory, or
district of the United States, shall comply with the following
regulations:

The nurseryman, stock dealer, agent or plant broker must be listed in
the latest directory of registered or certified nurseries, agents, stock
dealers, and plant brokers of the state where such nursery stock
originated.

A valid certificate of inspection must be attached to each separate
package, bundle, box, or shipment of nursery stock shipped into Florida.
In club orders, one tag must be attached to each individual order and
another to the package containing the individual orders.

All shipments of nursery stock entering peninsular Florida by road are
required to stop at an agricultural inspection station where they will
be screened for proper certification and subject to cargo inspection by
the department.

House plants which are part of a passenger\'s baggage or household
effects may enter the state provided the plants are accompanied with a
certificate of inspection. Should the plants originate from a state that
does not offer an inspection and certification service for house plants,
the owner must be able to furnish the department a Florida address where
the plants will be located. This information will enable the department
to conduct a follow‑up inspection if deemed necessary. If sufficient
information is given, the plants will be allowed entry.

##  

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS

All shipments of foreign origin plant and plant products are prohibited
entry into the state of Florida unless accompanied by supporting
documentation verifying inspection and clearance by the USDA. These
products must also be accompanied with a bill of lading which contains:
Name and physical address of the shipper or consignor; Name and physical
address of receiver or consignee; Description of plants or plant
products in shipment; Place and country or origin; Ultimate destination
of shipment if other than receiver or consignee.

# NOXIOUS WEEDS

Definition: Any living stage, including, but not limited to, seeds and
reproductive parts, of a parasitic or other plant of a kind, or
subdivision of a kind, which may be a serious agricultural threat in
Florida as listed in Rule 5B‑57.007 (see attached), as well as those
plants identified by the USDA as noxious weeds under CFR 360.200 (b) and
(c).

It is unlawful to introduce, possess, move, or release any plant pest or
noxious weed regulated by the department and the USDA except under
permit issued by the department or the USDA. No permit shall be issued
unless the department has determined that procedures exist to adequately
contain the plant pest or noxious weed or that it will not pose a threat
to the agricultural industry or the environment.

**5B‑57.007 Noxious Weed List.**

**(1) Parasitic Weeds.**\
(a) *Aeginetia* spp. (Aeginetia).\
(b) *Alectra* spp. (Alectra).\
(c) *Cuscuta* spp. Only the native Florida species are excluded from
this list. These include:\
   1. *C. americana*.\
   2. *C. compacta*.\
   3. *C. exaltata*.\
   4. *C. gronovii*.\
   5. *C. indecora*.\
   6. *C. obtusiflora*.\
   7. *C. pentagona*.\
   8. *C. umbellata*.\
(d) *Orobanche* spp. (broomrapes), with the exception of:\
   1. *O. uniflora* (oneflowered broomrape).

**(2) Terrestrial Weeds.**\
(a) *Ageratina adenophora* (crofton weed).\
(b) *Alternanthera sessilis* (sessile joyweed).\
(c) *Asphodelus fistulosus* (onionweed).\
(d) *Avena sterilis* (including *Avena budoviciana*) (animated oat, wild
oat).\
(e) *Borreria alata* (broadleaf buttonweed).\
(f) *Carthamus oxyacantha* (wild safflower).\
(g) *Chrysopogon aciculatus* (pilipiliula).\
(h) *Commelina benghalensis* (Benghal dayflower).\
(i) *Crupina vulgaris* (common crupina).\
(j) [*Cupaniopsis
anacardioides*](http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cuan1.htm)
(carrotwood). **Propagation prohibited effective 7/1/99; sale or
distribution prohibited 1/1/2001.**\
(k) *Digitaria scalarum* (African couchgrass, fingergrass).\
(l) *Digitaria velutina* (velvet fingergrass, annual conchgrass).\
(m) *Dioscorea alata* (white yam).\
(n) *Dioscorea bulbifera* (air potato).\
(o) *Drymaria arenarioides* (lightning weed).\
(p) *Emex australis* (three-cornered jack).\
(q) *Emex spinosa* (devil\'s thorn).\
(r) *Euphorbia prunifolia* (painted euphorbia).\
(s) *Galega officinalis* (goat\'s rue).\
(t) *Heracleum mantegazzianum* (giant hogweed).\
(u) *Imperata brasiliensis* (Brazilian satintail).\
(v) [*Imperata cylindrica*](http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/impcyl.html)
(cogongrass).\
(w) *Ipomoea triloba* (little bell, Aiea morning glory).\
(x) *Ischaemum rugosum* (murainograss).\
(y) *Leptochloa chinensis* (Asian sprangletop).\
(z) *Lycium ferocissimum* (African boxthorn).\
(aa) [*Lygodium
japonicum*](http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/~pi/plantinsp/images/LygodiumJap.gif)
(Japanese climbing fern).\
(bb) *Lygodium microphyllum* (small-leaved climbing fern).\
(cc) [*Melaleuca
quinquenervia*](http://www.floridaplants.com/Eflora/melaleuca_quinquenervia.htm)
(melaleuca).^1^\
(dd) *Melastoma malabathricum* (Indian rhododendron).\
(ee) *Mikania cordata* (mile-a-minute).\
(ff) *Mikania micrantha* (climbing hempweed).\
(gg) *Mimosa invisa* (giant sensitive plant).\
(hh) *Mimosa pigra* (catclaw mimosa).^1^\
(ii) *Nassella trichotoma* (serrated tussock).\
(jj) *Neyraudia reynaudiana* (Burma reed).\
(kk) *Opuntia aurantiaca* (jointed prickly pear).\
(ll) *Oryza longistaminata* (red rice).\
(mm) *Oryza punctata* (red rice).\
(nn) *Oryza rufipogon* (wild red rice).\
(oo) *Paederia cruddasiana* (sewer-vine).\
(pp) *Paederia foetida* (skunk-vine).\
(qq) *Paspalum scrobiculatum* (Kodomillet).\
(rr) *Pennisetum clandestinum* (Kikuyu grass).\
(ss) *Pennisetum macrourum* (African feathergrass).\
(tt) *Pennisetum pedicellatum* (Kyasuma grass).\
(uu) *Pennisetum polystachyon* (missiongrass, thin napiergrass).\
(vv) *Prosopis* spp.\
(ww) *Pueraria montana* (kudzu).\
(xx) *Rhodomyrtus tomentosa* (downy myrtle).\
(yy) *Rottboellia cochinchinensis* (itchgrass).\
(zz) *Rubus fruticosus* (bramble blackberry).\
(aaa) *Rubus moluccanus* (wild raspberry).\
(bbb) *Saccharum spontaneum* (wild sugarcane).\
(ccc) *Salsola vermiculata* (wormleaf salsola).\
(ddd) *Sapium sebiferum* (Chinese tallow tree).\
(eee) [*Schinus
terebinthifolius*](http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/schinus.html) (Brazilian
pepper-tree).^1^\
(fff) *Setaria pallidefusca* (cattail grass).\
(ggg) *Solanum tampicense* (wetland nightshade).\
(hhh) *Solanum torvum* (turkeyberry).\
(iii) [*Solanum viarum*](http://www.wec.ufl.edu/range/tsa/) (tropical
soda apple).\
(jjj) *Tridax procumbens* (coat buttons).\
(kkk) *Urochloa panicoides* (liverseed grass).

^1^**Department of Environmental Protection permit required for these
species.**\
Specific Authority 570.07 (13), (23) FS. Law Implemented 581.031 (4),
(5), (6), 581.083, 581.091 FS. History - New 7-27-93, Amended 2/28/94,
6/30/96, 7-7-99.

**QUARANTINES OR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS**

**TRANSIT INSPECTION AND POSTENTRY QUARANTINE**

INSPECTION OF SHIPMENTS IN TRANSIT: Any shipments of plants and plant
products are subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the
Division or the USDA. Such inspection may be conducted at agricultural
inspection stations operated by the department or USDA, on the highways,
at shipment destinations, at airports, bus terminals, freight terminals
or other warehouses, storage places, or places of business of common
carriers. Inspection may include request for presentation to the
authorized representative, certificates accompanying the shipment,
invoices, or waybills included with the cargo, The authorized
representative may require individual inspections of all items
considered to be regulated articles.

POSTENTRY QUARANTINE: For the purpose of detecting certain plant pests
or noxious weeds which are difficult to detect in certain stages of
their growth, the Division or USDA may require a postentry quarantine
period of inspection. Compliance agreements may be entered into
stipulating requirements of the postentry quarantine.

**AQUATIC PLANTS**

PESTS: Aquatic plant species not native to the State of Florida.

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: Aquatic plants

RESTRICTIONS: No person shall import into the state any aquatic plant or
seed thereof of a species not native to the state without having first
obtained a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP), Bureau of Invasive Plant Management\
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 705, Tallahassee, FL 32399, Tel:
850-245-2809

**CITRUS PESTS**

PESTS: All injurious insects, plant diseases or disorders of citrus.

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: Any and all kinds of citrus plants and parts
thereof.

RESTRICTIONS: It is unlawful to move into Florida any and all kinds of
citrus trees and parts thereof except by a special permit from the
Division Director. Permits are not required to move citrus fruits into
the state. Federal Domestic Quarantines regulate the interstate movement
of fruit from areas known to harbor fruit flies injurious to citrus.

**DOGWOOD ANTHRACNOSE**

PEST: Dogwood anthracnose

STATES REGULATED: CT, DE, GA, ID, MD, MA, NJ, NY, NC, OR, PA, SC, TN,
VA, WA, WV and any other state, where dogwood anthracnose is determined
to be established.

MATERIALS REGULATED: A dogwood plant (Cornus spp.) or part thereof or
any other plant or part thereof which is capable of harboring or
transporting dogwood anthracnose in any of its life stages.

RESTRICTIONS: The movement of dogwood plants or part thereof from
infested states into Florida is prohibited except by master permit
issued by the director.

**FRUIT FLIES AND OTHER DANGEROUS INSECTS AND DISEASES**

PESTS: Fruit flies (Trypetidae or Tephritidae)

STATES REGULATED: Hawaii and U.S. Possessions

MATERIALS REGULATED: Fruit fly hosts

RESTRICTIONS: Entry of Planting Stock and Produce From Hawaii and U.S.
Possessions. The movement into Florida from Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands of the following is prohibited: All fruits in the raw, or
unprocessed state of citrus (Citrus spp.), mango (Mangifera spp.), jobo
(Spondias spp.), guava (Psidium spp.), pomarrosa or rose apple (Eugenia
jambos), and all other fruits that may be determined to be hosts of
fruit flies (Trypetidae or Tephritidae); string beans, lima beans,
kidney beans, faba beans, and pigeon peas, either in the pod or shelled;
peppers, okra, green corn, sugarcane, and all parts thereof, sweet
potatoes, cottonseed, and paddy rice; provided that the fruits and
vegetables enumerated herein may enter Florida when free of plant litter
and soil and when treated under the supervision of inspectors of the
U.S. Department of Agriculture by a method developed by said department
or by an authorized inspector of the state of origin.

**LETTUCE MOSAIC**

PEST: Lettuce mosaic virus

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: Lettuce seed and plants

RESTRICTIONS: Lettuce seed and or plants moved into, sold or planted in
a commercial lettuce production area in Florida shall be certified as
having been tested for lettuce mosaic virus by a testing facility
approved by the Division of Plant Industry.

**OAK WILT**

PEST: Oak wilt disease

STATES REGULATED: AR, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NE, NY, NC,
OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI.

MATERIALS REGULATED: Rooted trees and seedling plants of oak (Quercus
spp.), chestnut (Castanea spp.), chinquapin (Castanopsis spp.) and
tanbark oak (Lithocarpus densiflora), and any parts of such plants for
propagation, except seed.

RESTRICTIONS: The movement of oak wilt disease or host plants into the
state from an infested or regulated area is prohibited except by master
permit issued by the director. The movement of firewood with bark and
unpeeled lumber into the state from an infested or regulated area is
prohibited except by a certificate issued by an authorized
representative of the state of origin. The certificate shall state that
these regulated articles have been treated in a manner approved by the
department to minimize risk of inadvertent introduction of oak wilt
disease.

**SEED POTATO PESTS**

PESTS: Seed potatoes offered for sale in Florida must not exceed the
tolerances indicated for the following plant pests: golden nematode, 0%,
potato rot nematode, 0%, potato wart, 0%; stem and bulb nematode, 0%;
ring rot, 0%; spindle tuber, 1%; blackleg, 1%; Fusarium wilt, 1%; net
necrosis, 1%; late blight, 1%; and any other dangerous pest of potatoes
not listed, 0%. Scab and Rhizoctonia same as U.S. No. 1 tolerance.

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: Seed potatoes

RESTRICTIONS: (1) All potatoes to be sold for propagation in Florida
must meet U.S. No. 1, Size B requirements, except that the tolerance for
shatter bruising may be that designated for U.S. No. 2.(2) All potatoes
to be sold for seed in Florida must have been grown under a seed potato
certification program of the state or country of origin, and each bag
must be accompanied by a certificate issued by the agency administering
the seed potato certification program. (3) The department shall have the
authority to open any shipment of seed potatoes for inspection and to
draw a reasonable sample from any bag of seed potatoes for laboratory
examination or for planting for field observation.

**SNAILS**

PESTS: Snails

‑ Archachatina spp. and Achatina spp. (Example: marginate achatina snail
and giant African snail)

‑ Helix spp. (Example: brown garden snail)

> ‑ Theba pisana (Muller), white garden snail

‑ Megalobulimus oblongus (Muller), (giant South American snail)

‑ Any other plant‑infesting snail which may be determined by department
order or rule to be injurious to Florida agriculture.

STATES REGULATED: AZ, CA, HI, NM, OR, SC, TX, WA,

MATERIALS REGULATED: Any plant, plant product or other regulated article
capable of transporting or harboring plant‑feeding snails.

RESTRICTIONS: Regulated articles from infested states may move into
Florida provided they have been inspected by authorized officials of the
state of origin and each shipment accompanied by an original special
certificate stating that the articles have been inspected and meet
Florida\'s requirements.

**SUGARCANE**

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: Propagative parts of sugarcane

RESTRICTIONS: The movement of propagative parts of sugarcane into the
State of Florida is prohibited unless accompanied by a special permit
issued by the department.

# 

# APIARY INSPECTION LAW

**VARROA MITE**

PEST: Varroa mite

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: Apis mellifera and all subspecies thereof, all
beekeeping equipment, honey in the comb and any other article that is
capable of transporting any stage of the Varroa mite.

RESTRICTIONS: The movement of all honeybees, beekeeping equipment, or
other regulated articles into the State of Florida is prohibited unless
accompanied by a certificate issued by the state of origin department of
agriculture certifying that the regulated articles are apparently free
of Varroa mite or have been treated as prescribed by the department.

**PESTS OF HONEYBEES AND UNWANTED RACES OF HONEYBEES**

PESTS: American foulbrood, Tropilaelaps clareae, African honeybee, Cape
honeybee and any other honeybee race or pest determined by the
department to be a threat to the state.

STATES REGULATED: ALL

MATERIALS REGULATED: American foulbrood, Tropilaelaps clareae, African
honeybee, Cape honeybee, any honeybee race or pest determined by the
department to be a threat to the state, used beekeeping equipment or
fixtures and any other article capable of transporting a regulated pest
or an unwanted race of honeybees.

RESTRICTIONS: The movement of all honeybees, beekeeping equipment, or
other regulated articles are prohibited entry into the State of Florida
unless accompanied by a certificate issued by the state of origin
department of agriculture certifying that the regulated aticles were
inspected and found to meet Florida\'s entry requirements.