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NEWS
Citrus Quarantine Updates and New Labeling Requirements
June 5, 2017
Citrus Quarantine Updates and New Labeling Requirements
Baton Rouge, La. (June 5, 2017) – The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has added quarantine areas for citrus. The quarantine restricts movement of citrus nursery stock and citrus plant parts except for fruit from parishes where plant diseases called citrus greening and citrus canker and the insect called Asian citrus psyllid have been confirmed. However, citrus nursery stock that is grown in a USDA approved screen house can be moved outside of the quarantine areas. The screen houses, which are only found in Plaquemines Parish, prevent insects and/or disease from infecting the citrus nursery stock.
On February 7, 2017, citrus greening disease was positively identified in Jefferson Parish. Also, citrus canker disease was recently confirmed in St. John, St. James and Lafourche Parishes. Therefore, the LDAF is expanding the existing quarantine areas for both citrus canker and citrus greening as the following:
For citrus canker, the entire parishes of: Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James and St. John are quarantined.
For citrus greening, the entire parishes of: Jefferson, Orleans, and Washington are quarantined.
“Citrus that has greening or canker is not harmful to humans. What we’re trying to prevent is the spread the disease. Canker makes the fruit less marketable, while the greening makes the fruit inedible,” said Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.
In an effort to reduce the risk of citrus nursery stock being moved from a quarantined area, the LDAF has added a new labeling regulation. Any citrus nursery stock, that is sold or moved into a parish that is quarantined for citrus canker and/or citrus greening, must have a label attached to the plant or container with the following statement: PROHIBITED FROM MOVEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE CITRUS QUARANTINE AREAS Penalty for Violation, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
While there can be some confusion regarding citrus quarantines, a good rule of thumb is to purchase citrus nursery stock from the local nurseries in the parish where you live or the parish where you plan to grow it.
For more information on the diseases, the insect or the restrictions, contact the LDAF Horticulture and Quarantine Programs office at (225) 952-8100 or go to www.ldaf.la.gov.