Comment from Gene B Cross, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) would like to express support for the State of Florida effort to repeal the interim rule detailed in Docket No. APHIS-2007-0032, Citrus Canker; Interstate Movement of Regulated Nursery Stock from Quarantined Areas. As outlined, this interim rule prohibits the movement of citrus plants from Florida, with the exception of un- grafted calamondin and kumquat plants. After interim review, the NCDA&CS will permit the movement of citrus plants from Florida to North Carolina as long as the developed Florida laws and regulations are effectively implemented. It is our understanding these regulations require all citrus plants to be propagated in approved structures that effectively prevent the entry of citrus canker or other citrus diseases and vectors of these diseases, including the Asian citrus psyllid that spreads citrus greening. As such, we feel confident these program components will ensure that North Carolina receives clean plants. Additionally, North Carolina does not have a citrus industry and any plants that enter this state are generally for homeower use only. Further, given the environmental conditions in North Carolina, it is not likely that these ornamental citrus plants would survive and the risk for spreading organisms such as citrus canker and citrus greening would be negligible. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations.