Questions and

Answers About

National Pine Cone

Recall

Q. When did the Animal and Plant Inspection

Service (APHIS) issue the national recall on pine

cones from India?

A. On December 12, 2003, Plant Protection and

Quarantine (PPQ) issued a national recall on pine

cones originating in India. On December 5, 2003,

PPQ issued a limited recall on affected pine cones

from Target retail stores only. PPQ expanded the

recall nationwide based on pest finds in additional

retail chains.

Q. Which products are affected by the recall?

A. The recall is specific to pine cones of Indian 

origin. The pine cones are being sold either singly or

in potpourri. The UPC numbers or SKU numbers for

the affected products can be found on the APHIS

Web site at

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/sa_pinecones.html.

Products bearing different UPC codes or SKU numbers currently are not affected by the recall.

Q. Which retailers are affected by the recall?

A. The recall applies to infested pine cones sold in

Target, Wal–Mart, JoAnn Fabrics, Lowe’s, Dollar Tree,

Frank’s Nursery, and K–mart stores nationwide.

Q. In which States were the infested pine cones

found prior to issuance of the national recall?

A. PPQ intercepted infested pine cones in nine

States: California, Connecticut, Florida,

Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York,

North Carolina, and West Virginia.

Q. Are the intercepted pests currently known to

exist in the United States?

A. PPQ intercepted Chlorophorus strobilicola

(Cerambycidae), a pest native to India. This pest is

not known to exist in the United States. PPQ is planning a nationwide survey for this pest.

Q. What are the risks associated with this pest?

A. Chlorophorus strobilicola is a wood–boring beetle

that feeds on pine cones and lowers seed production.

Q. How did APHIS discover the infested pine

cones?

A. An APHIS employee discovered larvae in an

infested pine cone in North Carolina at a Target store.

Q. What steps should consumers take if they 

previously purchased affected products?

A. Infested pine cones purchased either singly or in

potpourri (bagged or boxed) should be double

bagged, tied securely, and disposed of in the trash.

Q. What are the symptoms of infestation that

store managers and consumers should look for?

A. Store managers and consumers concerned

about possible infestation should check for exit holes

in the cone, a sawdust–like material called frass or

egg sacs in the crevices between the scales of the

pine cones.

Q. How will the recalled items be handled?

A. The recalled pine cones will be incinerated or

placed in a landfill. APHIS supervised treatment 

(i.e., fumigation with methyl bromide), may be an

alternative depending on the packaging and state of

the product.

Q. What steps are being taken by APHIS to 

prevent the introduction of these pests on newly

imported products?

A. In addition to the national recall on infested pine

cones, APHIS is requiring mandatory fumigation for

all pine cones from India entering U.S. ports of entry.

Products packaged in impermeable wrappers will be

refused entry unless they are removed from the packaging to allow effective treatment.

Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine February 2004

APHIS
United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 14th and

Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call

(202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity

provider and employer.