Importation of Artificially Dwarfed Plants in Growing Media From the People's Republic of China

Resumo

We are proposing to amend our regulations governing the importation of plants and plant products to allow artificially dwarfed (penjing) plants of the genera Buxus, Ehretia (Carmona), Podocarpus, Sageretia, and Serissa to be imported into the United States from the People's Republic of China in an approved growing medium subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements. We have assessed the pest risks associated with the importation of these artificially dwarfed plants established in growing media and have determined that they may be imported from the People's Republic of China under the conditions proposed without presenting a significant risk of introducing or disseminating dangerous plant pests. This proposed rule would relieve restrictions that currently allow these genera to be imported only as bare-rooted plants.