Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is charged with protecting the United States from the introduction and establishment of exotic agricultural pests, Donald Husnik reported at the San Diego Conference. APHIS Deputy Administrator for Plant Protection and Quarantine, Husnik said that the agency's mission is also to facilitate trade in the global marketplace.

Husnik said that the loss of ethylene dibromide (EDB) in the early 1980's heightened the awareness of our increasing dependence on chemical fumigants. And, while the loss of EDB had major repercussions on our quarantine program, it was mitigated somewhat by knowing that we had methyl bromide as an alternative. Since then, he said that APHIS's number one objective has been to find alternative quarantine treatments for both EDB and methyl bromide.

Alternatives developed by the Agricultural Research Service for commodities that had formerly been treated with EDB and could not tolerate methyl bromide include hot water, hot air, and cold treatments. However, these treatments have limitations that include time, cost, and usable temperature ranges.

"We must work together to develop treatment technologies and phytosanitary certification systems," Husnik said. "There is a need for more dialogue among scientists on an international level regarding standards for quarantine security. This will lead to international acceptance of new treatment methods and certification systems."

Without substantial progress on this interaction, the loss of methyl bromide will put U.S. quarantine efforts, and a substantial part of our export trade, in an extremely precarious position.

"Global trade pressures and the impending loss of methyl bromide make it imperative that every practical treatment option be explored as quickly as possible," Husnik stated. "The potential loss of this chemical from the arsenal of risk management options available to plant quarantine officials will undoubtedly have serious negative effects on import and export programs in all countries."

Impacts from the loss of methyl bromide are expected to fall into two categories:

1. A great reduction in the number and range of treatments that can be prescribed in advance as the basis for authorizing the import and export of regulated materials. This will result in increased emphasis on the pest risk analysis process to more precisely estimate risks, thereby reducing the number of minor phytosanitary concerns.
   
   
2. A serious reduction in the number and range of treatment options available for emergency action programs based on the detection of a pest. This affects the ability to prescribe commodity treatments resulting from inspection at ports of entry. It also limits the options available for emergency treatments applied for commodities moving domestically.