The EU has recently adopted some amendments to the EU Directive 2000/29/EC, effective from 1 April 2003. With the new ammendments, The following genera will be added to those that are already under phtosanitary supervision in the EU, namely: Dianthus, Chrysanthemum and orchids. The additional genera are: Rosa, Gypsophila, Solidago, Aster, Eryngium, Hypericum and Eustoma (Lisianthus). It will be also be necessary to inspect Trachelium for certain quarantine organisms.

Phytosanitary certification of all these Genera will be required when importing into the EU from non-EU countries. All must be free from Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. trifolli (and L.broniae if imported into Ireland or Northern Ireland). Chrysanthemum, Dianthus, Gypsophila and Solidago must origniate in countries free from Liriomyza sativae and Amauromyza maculosa or the flowers must be certified free immediately prior to shipment. All the genera included in the ammendment must originate in countries free from Bemisia tabaci or must be certified free immediately prior to shipment. The same is true for orchids with regard to Thrips palmi. Finally, Chrysanthemum and Dianthus must originate in a production zone where no signs of Spodoptera eridiana, S. frugiperda or S.litura have been observed since the beginning of the last complete cycle of vegetaion, or that the plants or cut-flowers have undergone an approprraite treatment to protect them from these organisms. Hartmut Fischer. "FloraCulture International" www.floracultureintl.com