The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a Federal Order restricting the importation of rose plants for planting in response to the detection risk of Ralstonia solanacearum Race 3 biovar 2, a plant pathogen not known to occur in the United States.

The action, effective immediately, amends import requirements for Rosa spp. plants for planting to prevent introduction of the bacterium, known as Rs R3bv2, a news release said. APHIS regulates Rs R3bv2 as a Select Agent and notes it is synonymous with Ralstonia solanacearum phylotype IIB, sequevars 1 and 2, also known as IIB-1 and IIB-2. All strains of Ralstonia solanacearum are treated as potential Select Agents in the United States and are subject to the highest levels of phytosanitary regulation until proven not to belong to Rs R3bv2.

The bacterium colonizes the vascular system of plants, causing wilting and death. It is associated with brown rot of potato, bacterial wilt of tomato and eggplant and southern wilt of geranium. It is known to infect potato, tomato, eggplant, pepper and geranium crops and has recently been shown to asymptomatically infect ornamental roses.

Prior to the Federal Order, APHIS allowed ornamental roses to enter the United States without specific safeguards against Rs R3bv2, creating a potential pathway for introduction. Rosa spp. plants for planting had been permitted under postentry quarantine from Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Imports from Canada were allowed with additional declarations. Shipments from all other countries were not authorized pending pest risk analysis, or NAPPRA.

Under the new restrictions, Rosa spp. plants for planting may continue to be imported under postentry quarantine from Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom only if they are produced in a pest-free place of production or pest-free production site for Rs R3bv2 as certified by the exporting country’s National Plant Protection Organization. All standard postentry quarantine requirements remain in effect after U.S. entry.

From Canada, imports of Rosa spp. plants for planting may continue only if all plant parts, including rootstock and graft material, are grown solely in Canada or the United States. Shipments must enter under the U.S.-Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program or the Canadian Nursery Certification Program. Plants grown outside those programs must be accompanied by a Canadian phytosanitary certificate for export.

From all other countries, Rosa spp. plants for planting must be imported under a Controlled Import Permit. Alternatively, National Plant Protection Organizations may request that APHIS remove NAPPRA status for the taxon.

The restrictions apply to Rosa spp. plants for planting and all plant parts intended for propagation except seed. They apply to all import pathways, including commercial and noncommercial cargo, passenger baggage, international mail and express courier shipments. Rosa spp. cut flowers are exempt from the Federal Order.

For additional information, APHIS Regulatory Policy Specialists Marla Cazier at (970) 494-7562 or marla.j.cazier@usda.gov and Shannon Jarman at (650) 705-8837 or shannon.e.jarman@usda.gov are available for inquiries.