Progress in Regulations for Exporting Ornamental Plants

The U.S. has published proposed regulations to authorize Costa Rican exports of ornamental plants more than 18 inches tall.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A press release from Costa Rica's foreign ministry states that the USA proposes to modify regulations that currently restrict exports of plants from the Dracaena species that are more than 46 cm tall.

The ministry says that this is an important step in the process of improving access to a segment of the US plant market that until now has been off limits to Costa Rica and other producers of the Dracaena plant species.

The new regulation will put Costa Rica in a privileged position to take advantage of the market. The country will be able to export plants up to 1.37 meters tall.

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The U.S. is strengthening its controls on the entry of ornamental plants especially from the Dracaena genus.

The legislation prohibits the entry of the plants of more than 18 inches or where the material in which the root is transported has been used before. The rule is already in place but from June 1 it will now be enforced with no exceptions. Products that do not comply with the rules will be destroyed or re-exported.

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