The European Union still has doubts over the presence of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in plants of the Phoenix variety and has rejected the request to allow their re-entry from Costa Rica.
In a meeting in which producers and exporters of ornamentals did not participate, the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) put forward the"...
The phytosanitary measures implemented by the European Union have been in force since May and aim to prevent the entry of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa.
The rule applies to ornamental coffee plants (not seeds) of the coffee variety and applies to the 28 countries comprising the European Union. The Chamber of Plants, Flowers and Foliage in Costa Rica clarified that the prohibition does not apply to foliage, which can still be exported.
Costa Rica is not allowing the entry of potatoes from the U.S. and customs in Miami have increased controls on ornamental plants coming from Costa Rica.
It has been assumed that the increased controls on ornamental plants occurred after the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) of Costa Rica suspended the issuance of phytosanitary requirement forms for importing U.S. potatoes.
The U.S. government has lifted the restriction on imports from Costa Rica of dracaenas with foliage larger than 18 inches.
From a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Trade;
Costa Rica is the only country that can export ornamental plants larger than 18 inches to the United States.
San Jose, June 26, 2012. Today the Federal Register of the United States issued an amendment to its phytosanitary regulations, which allows the importation of ornamental plants of the species of Dracaena marginata larger than 18 inches (46 centimeters) from Costa Rica, giving a competitive advantage to national exporters.
Costa Rican exporters sending ornamental plants of the species Dracena spp to the U.S.A must be certified.
In addition to the certification issued by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the United States Department of Agriculture, producers must also enroll in the Healthy Propagative Material Program.
Costa Rica and the U.S. will sign a work plan document to enable the export of large-sized ornamental plants.
It includes topics such as good plant health practices, production locations, harvesting procedures, packaging plants, and phytosanitary certifications for exporting, among others.
“Costa Rica sells $165 million a year in ornamental plants.
The United States will allow entry of Costa Rican ornamental plants with stems over 18 inches and up to 54 inches high.
This potential market opening occurred as a result of the "Clean Stock Program” for the export of Dracaena to the Unites States, which culminated in April 2009. Costa Rica has yet to perform additional phytosanitary studies so that the United States will allow the importation of plants older than two years, or higher than 18 inches.