On Monday, the Washington state Department of Agriculture finalized a rule change adding certain soils and growing medium to the apple maggot quarantine list. Meaning starting July 11th, those outlined soils cannot be transported from an apple maggot quarantine area to a pest-free area in Washington. The change comes after years of meetings with the tree fruit industry, developing a small business economic impact statement, holding public hearings, and receiving feedback from the nursery industry.

According to the WSDA, the tree fruit industry first proposed the change after recognizing that the movement of soil, specifically the soil in pots and attached to root balls of host plants and some non-host plants, could transport apple maggots into pest-free areas. Starting next month, plants containing soil which originates from a quarantined area must have a phytosanitary certificate if they will be moved into the pest- free area in Eastern Washington.

The change will affect nurseries in any location quarantined for apple maggot, whether in Washington or in another state. Visit WSDA’s Website for more information about apple maggot and the apple maggot quarantine as well as further details about this new rule change.


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