APHIS Establishes Quarantines for Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Ohio, Expands Quarantines in Michigan and New York, and Establishes Conditions for the Interstate Movement of Regulated Articles of Buxus species.

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with State Agricultural Authorities of the impacted States, is updating the box tree moth (BTM; Cydalima perspectalis) quarantined areas and establishing the conditions for the interstate movement of regulated articles of Buxus species, commonly called boxwood, from BTM quarantined areas.
“This Federal Order establishes quarantined areas in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Ohio and expands the quarantined areas in Michigan and New York for BTM to align with interior quarantines established in these States. Specifically, this Federal Order a) establishes a BTM quarantine in the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, b) adds all of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne Counties to the BTM quarantines previously established in Lenawee and Washtenaw Counties and parts of Jackson and Monroe Counties in Michigan, c) adds all of Allegany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Cortland, Franklin, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, Saint Lawrence, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates Counties to the BTM quarantines previously established in Eerie, Niagara, and Orleans Counties in New York, and d) establishes quarantines in Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio, as well as the portions of Montgomery County, Ohio, to the south of Interstate 70; and the portions of Greene County that are west of SR 68 to the north of Xenia, and west of interstate 42 to the south of Xenia in Ohio. This Federal Order supersedes DA-2022-13 and DA2023-18, to include these new areas and to incorporate changes to the requirements for interstate movement of regulated articles. Boxwood plants may only be moved interstate from a quarantined area from an establishment operating under a compliance agreement, and only if accompanied by a certificate issued by a State Agricultural Authority certifying that the requirements of this Federal Order and the compliance agreement have been met. These requirements will prevent producers and distributors of boxwood from moving infested plants interstate. State Agricultural Authorities may prescribe additional safeguards and protocols. All other regulated articles of boxwood, including plant parts, pieces, cuttings, clippings, debris, and any portion of the plant, alive or dead, except for decorative purposes, are prohibited from movement.

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