Maine Quarantines: Guidelines for Shipping Trees, Wreaths, etc.

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MAINE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
Maine Forest Service

Regulations and Guidelines for Shipping

Christmas Trees, Wreaths & Decorative Plant Material

(Twigs, Nuts and Fruit Used in Wreath Making)

November 1999

ANN GIBBS
Plant Industry Division
Department of Agriculture
28 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

DON OUELLETTE
Maine Forest Service
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0022

SHIPPERS OF CUT TREES AND MATERIALS FOR MAKING AND DECORATING WREATHS SHOULD KNOW Some plant materials used in making and decorating wreaths are illegal to send to certain destinations. Some cut plant materials may require inspection and/or certification prior to shipment. Cut trees, wreaths and other native plant materials found in Maine and used for decorative purposes can harbor serious insect and disease pests that come under quarantine regulations of this or other states. Some states reserve the right to refuse shipments of wreaths with signs and symptoms of any insects or diseases not found in their region.

To avoid problems and serious quarantine violations, Maine shippers should:

Become familiar with quarantines and regulations of the states being sent to.
Ship only plant materials free of insects or diseases.
Because quarantines are prone to frequent changes, retailers or shippers should check with the appropriate agency before shipping. Quarantine regulations listed in the adjoining table are offered as guidelines only for shipping to a number of common destinations in the United States.
- - For interstate shipments:
    Maine Department of Agriculture
    Plant Industry Division
    8 State House Station
    Augusta, ME 04333
    Telephone (207) 287-3891
    For international shipments:
    U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
    APHIS, PPQ
    267B Godfrey Blvd.
    Bangor, ME 04401
    Telephone (207) 945-0479

Pest	Regulated Plant Item and Comments
Gypsy Moth	Christmas wreaths (see footnote 1) Intrastate Shipments - do not require certification Interstate Shipments (see footenote 2) - do not require certification. To speed shipments through state inspection stations, clearly mark the contents of parcels (one balsam fir wreath, etc.) (see footenote 2). International Shipments - shipments to Canada require certification. Wreaths are not allowed into Europe & some other countries. Cut Christmas trees (see footnote 1) Intrastate Shipments - no certification required when shipped to Maine areas within quarantine zone (see gypsy moth quarantine map). Inspection and certification required only when shipped to Maine areas outside state quarantine zone. Interstate Shipments (see footenote 2) - require certification when shipped to any state other than Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. International Shipments - trees are not allowed into Europe and some other countries. Shipments to Canada require certification. Rooted and potted Christmas trees Intrastate Shipments - cut or potted trees require inspection and certification only when shipped to Maine areas outside state quarantine zone. Interstate Shipment (see footenote 2) - state certification required when shipping rooted/potted trees to any other state.
European Larch Canker	Brush wreaths & craft items - made from any and all parts - branches, twigs, cones, bark, etc. of larch, Larix spp. (also known as hackmatack, tamarack) Interstate & Intrastate Shipments (see footenote 2) - shipment of larch parts originating in Maine larch quarantine zones to any areas outside quarantine is prohibited. See larch quarantine map.
European Pine Shoot Moth	Pine trees & pine wreaths Interstate Shipments (see footenote 2) -.of trees prohibited from going to California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah unless fumigated and/or certified free of European pine shoot moth. Pine wreaths allowed into these above states only between October 31 and December 31.
Cedar-Apple Rust, Apple Maggot, and Plum Curculio	Wreath ornaments Juniper is prohibited from entering California. Hawthorn fruits are prohibited from entering Arizona, Idaho, Oregon and California. Rose hips, crabapple and hawthorn fruits all prohibited from entry in state of Washington.
Nut Borne Pests	Nuts used for wreath ornaments Unhusked nuts of hickory, pecan, walnut and butternut are all prohibited from entry in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. Chestnuts are prohibited from entry in California, Oregon and Washington. Hazelnuts are prohibited from entry in Oregon and Washington.

Footnote 1: Maine statute (Title 12, MRSA 1988, Chapter 805, Article II, §8842) regarding transport or cutting of Christmas trees and evergreen boughs:

Cutting: a current written permit or bill of sale from the owner is required when cutting growth of another in Maine.
Transportation: a current written permit or bill of sale or port of entry statement or other written proof of ownership is required in the vehicle or by the driver when transporting trees or evergreen boughs for commercial purposes.

Footnote 2: States have labeling laws. To facilitate wreath or tree shipments through state inspection stations, the contents of parcels (one balsam fir wreath, etc.) must be clearly marked on the outside along with the statement "Grown in Maine" and the county of origin and name of address of the shipper.

Gypsy Moth Quarantine in Maine

The purpose of the gypsy moth quarantine is to prevent the introduction and spread of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, a serious insect pest of trees, to non-infested areas (Maine Title 12, MRSA 1988, Chapter 803, §8305 and USDA, APHIS, PPQ regulation 7 CFR Part 301). The quarantine:

Designates the infested area as quarantined for the movement of regulated articles, which include trees, tree parts and wreaths
Requires inspection and certification of regulated articles (trees, tree parts, etc.) going to non-infested states, the non-infested area of Maine, and foreign countries.

In Maine, certification of cut Christmas trees and wreaths is performed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Plant Industry Division, 28 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333; Telephone (207) 287-3891 or United States Department of Agriculture, APHIS, PPQ, 267B Godfrey Boulevard, Bangor, ME 04401; Telephone (207) 945-0479.

European Larch Canker Quarantine in Maine

The European larch canker, Lachnellula willkommii, a dangerous disease which can kill mature and immature species of the genus Larix (larch, tamarack, hackmatack), occurs in some Maine coastal counties where a quarantine has been established to prevent its spread. (Maine Title 12, MRSA 1988, Chapter 803, §8305 and USDA-APHIS PPQ regulation 7 CFR 301.91). The quarantine:

Designates all plant parts of larch (Larix spp.) including branches, twigs, cones, entire plants, scions, and other propagative material except seed as regulated items.
Imposes restrictions on movement of larch from quarantined areas.

Maine Towns in Larch Quarantine Area

Hancock County: Gouldsboro, Sorrento, Sullivan, Winter Harbor, T7SD, T9SD, T10SD, T16MD

Waldo County: Lincolnville, Searsmont

Lincoln County: Alna, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Edgecomb. Jefferson, Newcastle, Nobleboro, South Bristol, Somerville, Southport, Waldoboro, Westport, Wiscasset

Knox County: Appleton, Camden, Cushing, Friendship, Hope, Owls Head, Rockland, Rockport, South Thomaston, St. George, Thomaston, Union, Warren, Washington

Washington County: Addison, Baring Plantation, Beals, Beddington, Calais, Centerville, Charlotte, Cherryfield, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Cooper, Cutler, Deblois, Dennysville, East Machias, Eastport, Edmunds, Harrington, Jonesboro, Jonesport, Lubec, Machias, Machiasport, Marion, Marshfield, Meddybemps, Milbridge, Northfield, Plantation No. 14, Pembroke, Perry, Robbinston, Rogue Bluffs, Steuben, Trescott, Whiting, Whitneyville, T18ED, T18MD, T19MD, T24MD, T25MD

For further information contact:

Maine Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0022

Telephone: (207) 287-2791 or within Maine only 1-800-367-0223
TTY: (207)287-2213

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