Permanent quarantine rules for LFA, CRB & more to be considered for adoption
The time has come! After nearly two years of waiting, the Hawaiʻi Board of Agriculture is considering the final adoption of rule amendments to establish inter- and intra-island quarantines for invasive pests and infested plants and materials—including little fire ants and coconut rhinoceros beetles – among other critical provisions next Tuesday, October 22 at 9am.
These amendments are a critical step in slowing the spread of invasive pests and providing the Agriculture Department with the authority it needs to better manage the transport and sale of pest-infested plants and materials.
Submit your written testimony in support by Monday, October 21, 9am, and plan to attend next week’s meeting in-person or on Zoom. Details and the link to submit testimony are below!
Board of Agriculture Meeting
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 9am
In-Person: Plant Quarantine Branch, 1849 Auiki Street, Honolulu, 96819
Virtual: Via Zoom
Written testimony: Use this form or email hdoa.board.testimony@hawaii.gov
Verbal testimony: In-person testimony is welcome; to testify via Zoom, follow instructions in agenda here. Each testifier will have two minutes.
These rule amendments were needed yesterday, well, really…years ago. Public pressure finally pushed the Agriculture Department to hold a public hearing for the amendments last January, almost a year after they were approved for public hearing by the Board of Agriculture. Since then, public concern has only grown as Oʻahu continues to lose more niu and palms each week, and little fire ants are spreading to new areas.
Let’s keep up the momentum and send a clear message that the future of our islands requires much quicker and proactive action including, but not limited to, the Department of Agriculture’s fulfillment of its statutory responsibilities. We urge the board to adopt these rule amendments now to provide Hawaiʻi with the practical, much-needed protection it needs against the rapid spread of invasive pests.