Feb 4, 2005

SAF NewsSource: Society of American Florists

U.S. Takes Bulbs Off Tariff List

After months of worry and speculation about importing bulbs from European Union (EU) to the United States, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) recently took the bulbs off a list that was targeted for tariff increases according to SAF’s Wednesday E-Briefon Feb. 2, 2005. In the original proposition increases on the incoming bulbs would have been risen a large amount, “for example, the current tariff on tulip bulbs from $0.89 per 1,000 bulbs to $9 per 1,000 bulbs, and putting U.S. growers at a competitive disadvantage,” stated the E-Brief.

Currently the USTR and the EU are also in the process of negotiating over the “access to the European rice markets and have issued a list of EU products on which tariffs may be increased in a retaliatory move by USTR,” stated the E-Brief. Originally bulbs were on the tariff list but were recently taken off due to widespread concern to the U.S. government by U.S. growers. For more information on this story visit www.safnow.org and www.gpnmag.com for the beginnings of the issue.

Canada Lifts Rose Restrictions

As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, florists everywhere are ordering in shipments of cut roses from all over the world. Within the last couple of weeks, Canada has decided to ease up on its restrictions on some plant material entering the country, according to SAF’s Washington Week in Review . The new leniency, means that “Growers in unrestricted California counties can now ship cut roses into Canada without a phytosanitary certificate or a permit to import, but growers are advised to include a statement of the roses’ country of origin,” the Reviewstated.

The Review stated “the Canadian government announced that beginning January 25 [2005], the country would permit entry to non-propogative P. ramorum (SOD) host material, including cut roses, from non-regulated areas of California.” Currently, SAF, California rose growers and AHPIS are working hard with Canada to make sure the roses can get to their Canadian destinations before the holiday.

However, the 14 counties that are under the tight watch from SOD are still awaiting word on what will become of them in order to ship roses into Canada. The restricted counties are Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterrey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Lake and San Francisco, according to the Review.

For more information on the restrictions contact Lin Schmale at SAF at (800) 336-4743 or lschmale@safnow.org.