Utah Admin. Code R68-15-7 - Certification Requirements

(1) To import regulated articles and commodities into Utah, a phytosanitary certificate or compliance agreement shall accompany the shipment that certifies compliance with this section.

(2) The certification may require the following:

(a) for production in an approved Japanese beetle free greenhouse or screenhouse:

(i) sterilizing any growing media and free of soil;

(ii) any plant stock shall be free of soil, and bare root before planting into the approved medium;

(iii) potted plants shall remain inside the greenhouse or screenhouse during the entire adult flight period;

(iv) during the adult flight period, the greenhouse or screen house shall be secure so that adult Japanese beetles may not gain entry;

(v) the state agricultural official from the state of origin shall document and approve the security of each area and shall inspect the greenhouse or screenhouse for the presence of any life stages of the life cycle of the Japanese beetle;

(vi) the owner shall protect the plants and their growing medium from infestation while being stored, packed, and shipped;

(vii) the owner shall implement safeguards to maintain the identity of certified greenhouse or screen house nursery stock during transport into or through any infested areas; and

(viii) the certificate shall have the statement; "The rooted plants, or crowns, were produced in an approved Japanese beetle free greenhouse or screenhouse."

(b) for production in an approved pest free window:

(i) shall complete the entire rooted plant production cycle within a pest free window;

(ii) shall grow plants in clean containers filled with sterilized and soilless growing medium;

(iii) planting, growth, harvest, and shipment of plants shall occur outside of the adult Japanese beetle flight period which is typically June through October; and

(iv) shall state on the certificate: "These plants were produced outside the Japanese beetle flight season."

(3) The department may approve alternative certification plans for nursery stock or plants for planting that do not conform to production qualifications listed in this section if the shipper submits the plans before shipment.

(4)

(a) A state agricultural official from the state of origin, or a compliance agreement, shall directly govern the application of any treatment performed.

(b) If performed under a compliance agreement, the grower shall closely monitor treatments and procedures throughout the season.

(5) The department may, at its discretion, accept a treatment application as outlined in the U.S. Domestic Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan.

(6) The department shall certify application of drench treatments of container only plants if the treatment:

(a) uses any chemical treatment at the maximum label rate;

(b) targets eggs and early first-instar larvae through prophylactic treatment;

(c) includes retreating containers exposed to a second flight season;

(d) is of containerized nursery stock with root balls 12 inches in diameter or smaller;

(e) effectively controls Japanese beetles through applying Imidacloprid, Bifenthrin, or another chemical approved by the department;

(f) uses sterile and soilless potting media and clean containers;

(g) applies the tank mix as a drench to wet the entire surface of the potting media; and

(h) avoids over drenching to not waste active ingredients through leaching.

(7) The department may not certify using a drench treatment for ornamental grasses, sedges, or field potted plants.

(8) The department shall certify the application of any media, granule, or incorporation treatment of container only plants if the treatment:

(a) targets eggs and early first-instar larvae;

(b) is mixed before potting and plants are potted at least 30 days before shipment;

(c) uses sterile and soilless potting media and clean containers;

(d) incorporates the granules into the media before potting;

(e) uses containers repotted with a granule incorporated mix or retreated using one of the approved drench treatments under Section R68-15-7 if containers are exposed to a second flight season; and

(f) uses an approved pesticide that includes Imidacloprid, Bifenthrin, or Tefluthrin.

(9) The department may not certify using a media, granule, or incorporation treatment for ornamental grasses, sedges, or field potted plants.

(10) Nursery stock operators may use methyl bromide fumigation at normal atmospheric pressure in a chamber or under a tarpaulin, according to label instructions, as a method to meet certification requirements.

(11)

(a) A state agricultural official or the grower shall complete and include the following statement on the applicable phytosanitary certificate or compliance agreement accompanying any treated shipment:

(b) "The nursery stock in this shipment was treated for Japanese beetles on the date ___________ in accordance with Rule R68-15 Quarantine Pertaining to Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica. The treatment was ______________. This shipment will be shipped within 30 days of treatment. Application witnessed by inspector name: ____________, and inspector signature: ____________________."

(12) The department may review and approve other treatments, protocols, or procedures for certification not listed in this rule.

Notes

Utah Admin. Code R68-15-7

Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-12, effective 6/8/2022 Adopted by Utah State Bulletin Number 2025-07, effective 3/27/2025