USA
March 6, 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requests comment on an updated draft framework of requirements for facilities that export hosts of the select agent Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 (Rs R3bv2) to the United States. 

Rs R3bv2 is a select agent under the USDA Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 due to risks it poses to the potato industry. Its primary hosts are Pelargonium spp. (geranium) as well as plants in the genus Solanum, which includes tomatoes and potatoes.  

In 2005, APHIS developed the Minimum Sanitation Protocol for Offshore Geranium Cutting Production protocol in response to introductions of Rs R3bv2 on imported geranium cuttings in 1999 and 2003. The current version of the protocol was released in 2007; it has not been updated since. Detection of Rs R3bv2 in the United States in April 2020 and suspect detections at ports of entry in November 2021 and January 2023 demonstrate the need to update the existing protocol. 

The updated draft Ralstonia Exclusion Program (REP) framework provides unified offshore facility standards to address Rs R3bv2 for all propagative hosts.  The updated REP framework will close known sanitation and testing gaps in the existing protocol as well as clarify roles and responsibilities of all program participants. It also provides updated standard operating procedures to execute following an Rs R3bv2 detection. 

APHIS works closely with industry to ensure these facilities are compliant with APHIS requirements.   

Please email your comments on the updated draft Ralstonia Exclusion Program (REP) framework to ppq.nappra@aphis.usda.gov. The comment period closes April 5, 2024.

Website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

Published: March 8, 2024