N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-5.5 - Movement into New Jersey of pepper transplants

(a) In order to prevent the movement into New Jersey of diseased, insect-infested or substandard quality pepper plants, the State Board of Agriculture declares such plants to be a nuisance and prescribes the following conditions for the entry of pepper plants in New Jersey.

(b) All pepper plants shipped into the State of New Jersey shall be certified to have been grown under an official certification program of the state of origin, or to have been inspected and certified free from injurious insects, nematodes and plant disease, based on an inspection no more than five days prior to removal from the soil.

(c) All plants certified as prescribed in (b) above shall be accompanied by an official certificate, so stating, attached to each included crate, basket or other container. Also, each such package shall be labeled as to variety and number of transplants per container.

(d) The following standards apply to imported pepper transplant:

1. The transplants shall be apparently free from injurious insects, nematodes and plant diseases;

2. The plant count shall be as stated on the container;

3. The transplants shall not be clipped;

4. The transplants shall be free of noxious weeds;

5. The transplants shall be in good physical condition so as to make successful growth of the plants probable in the opinion of the inspecting authority. At least 80 percent of all the pepper plants in each container shall be:

i. Not too soft or hard (over-mature);

ii. Not excessively heated;

iii. Free from excessive wilting;

iv. Free from excessive physical injury by insects, diseases, hail or other factors;

v. Free from excessive weeds;

vi. Free from excessive cold injury;

vii. Free from excessive nutrient deficiencies;

viii. Possessed of straight stems;

ix. Free from fruit or excessive bloom; and

x. Possessed of stem length six to 11 inches from soil line to growing point, with a minimum stem diameter of 5/32 inch. If the inspecting authority is notified of agreement between the plant producer and plant purchaser, plant size standards may be altered.

(e) Failure to comply with this section shall result in destruction or rejection of all or part of violating pepper transplant shipments into New Jersey.

(f) Any person importing plants into the State of New Jersey shall notify the Department of Agriculture of such shipment prior to, or within 24 hours after, arrival of the shipment.

(g) Complaints or dissatisfaction with shipments shall be received by the inspecting authority, prior to planting, within 24 hours of arrival in New Jersey.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 2:17-5.5