FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION 

DA-2023-18 

October 13, 2023 

Subject: APHIS Expands the Quarantine for Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in 

Michigan 

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials 

Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural 

Development (MDARD), is expanding the quarantine for the box tree moth (BTM, Cydalima 

perspectalis) to include all of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, 

and Wayne Counties in Michigan. On May 30, 2023, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2023-06, 

establishing a quarantine for the BTM in all of Lenawee and Washtenaw Counties and parts of 

Jackson and Monroe Counties, Michigan. This new Federal Order expands this quarantine and 

supersedes DA-2023-06. 

APHIS is prohibiting the interstate movement of regulated articles of boxwood (Buxus sp.) from 

Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and 

Wayne Counties. 

BTM is a destructive pest of boxwood and was detected in Lenawee County, Michigan, on 

November 2, 2022. Since that detection, APHIS has been working with MDARD to restrict host 

movement, delimit the infestation, engage stakeholders, and conduct outreach. APHIS, MDARD, 

industry, and research partners are working closely to develop pest control tools. 

Regulated articles include the whole plant, all plant parts, pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, and 

any portion of the plant, alive or dead. APHIS is taking this action to prevent the spread of BTM 

to the rest of the United States. These measures parallel the intrastate quarantine that MDARD

established on July 31, 2023, which expanded the quarantine they established on April 10, 2023. 

The attached Federal Order outlines the safeguarding measures required for protecting the 

industry from this pest. The Federal Order and additional information about BTM are located on 

the APHIS box tree moth webpage. For additional information, please contact the National 

Policy Manager, Allen Proxmire, at allen.proxmire@usda.gov or 480-392-8754. 

Dr. Mark L Davidson 

Deputy Administrator 

Plant Protection and Quarantine 

Attachment: Federal Order DA-2023-18 
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Federal Order

Domestic Quarantine Expansion for Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in Michigan

DA-2023-18

October 13, 2023

Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), in cooperation the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural 

Development (MDARD), is expanding the quarantine for the box tree moth (BTM, Cydalima 

perspectalis) in Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Livingston, Monroe, Oakland, and Wayne 

Counties, Michigan. This Federal Order prohibits the movement of regulated articles of boxwood 

(Buxus species) from these counties, and these measures parallel the intrastate quarantine that 

MDARD established on July 31, 2023, which expanded the quarantine they established on April

10, 2023. On May 30, 2023, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2023-06 establishing a quarantine 

for the BTM in all of Lenawee and Washtenaw Counties and parts of Jackson and Monroe 

Counties, Michigan. This new Federal Order expands this quarantine and supersedes DA-2023-

06.

This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by Section 

412(a) of the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act 

authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate 

commerce of any plant, plant part, plant product, or article if the Secretary determines that the 

prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the 

United States. The regulatory authority provided by 7 U.S.C. 7754 allows the Secretary to issue 

orders to carry out this provision of the Plant Protection Act. 

To prevent the spread of BTM, APHIS considers it necessary to implement the quarantine and 

regulate the interstate movement of regulated articles of Buxus sp. from the counties in Michigan

noted above. Therefore, effective immediately, APHIS prohibits the interstate movement of 

regulated articles of Buxus sp. from the quarantine area. Regulated articles include the whole 

plant, all plant parts, pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or 

dead. 

The Administrator may designate a whole state or an area less than an entire state if the 

Administrator determines, as in this case, that the designation of less than an entire state is 

adequate to prevent the interstate spread of BTM. In addition, less than an entire state may be 

quarantined if the Administrator determines that the affected state enforces equivalent 

restrictions and regulations for intrastate movement to effectively mitigate the spread of the pest. 

MDARD has established an equivalent quarantine and restrictions for intrastate movement of 

Buxus sp. in Michigan. 
The Federal Order and additional information about BTM are located on the APHIS box tree 

moth webpage. For additional information, please contact the National Policy Manager, Allen 

Proxmire, at allen.proxmire@usda.gov or 480-392-8754.

A. Quarantine Areas 

The quarantine area includes all of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, 

Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties in Michigan.

B. Regulated Articles 

Regulated articles include all species, varieties, and hybrids of Buxus sp., commonly called 

boxwood or box tree. Regulated articles include the whole plant, all plant parts, pieces, cuttings, 

clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or dead. 

Regulated articles are prohibited from leaving the quarantine area. 

C. Compliance Agreements 

Any entity within the quarantine area that wants to commercially grow and/or sell Buxus sp. 

must enter and abide by a compliance agreement. The compliance agreement shall include but 

not be limited to the following restrictions: 

The compliance agreement holder must: 

• Apply pest management practices and other safeguards. 

• Allow inspectors to survey and inspect regulated articles and other plants as necessary. 

• Actively ensure Buxus sp. sold from their facility does not leave the quarantine area. 

• Attach to each Buxus sp. plant for sale (or its container) a tag, sticker, or other labelling

with language comparable to the following:

o Buxus sp. - Regulated Article – Quarantine Material

o By the State’s Regulatory Authority and USDA APHIS PPQ

o This plant may not leave the Box Tree Moth quarantine area

o For more information visit the State and/or APHIS website (and provide link)

Definitions 

Administrator: The Administrator of APHIS, or any person authorized to act for the 

Administrator. 

Compliance Agreement: A written agreement between APHIS and/or State authorities with an 

authorized person engaged in the business of growing, handling, or moving of regulated articles 

in which the authorized person agrees to comply with specific requirements. 

Interstate: From any State into or through any other State. 
Inspector: Any employee of APHIS, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or other person 

authorized by the Administrator to perform the duties required under this Order. 

Quarantine area: Any State, or any portion of a State, listed in this Federal Order.