Apple Snail

Mississippi Emergency Apple Snail Regulation

In 2001, Mississippi adopted an Emergency Apple Snail Regulation [ 10.7 kB ] to prevent the introduction and spread within the state of destructive plant-eating apple snails of the family Ampullariidae (also known as Pilidae).

Quarantine Area

The quarantine area includes California, Florida, Hawaii, North Carolina, Texas and any other states or territories that are found to be infested with apple snails.

Regulated Articles

The following are subject to regulation:

• Apple snails (family Ampullariidae) in any living stage of development and
• Plants, soil, sand, peat or any other articles that may be responsible for movement of the apple snail.

Exemptions

The following are exempt from the requirements of this quarantine:

• Dormant bulbs
• Bare-root plants that have had the soil removed (other than aquatic plants)
• Liners produced above ground in an enclosed greenhouse
• Cut foliage/flowers
• Seeds
• Fruits/vegetables

Conditions Governing Shipment

Regulated articles from the quarantined area will be prohibited entry into Mississippi unless each shipment is accompanied by a certificate issued by and bearing the signature of the quarantine official of the state where shipment originated, certifying that:

• The regulated articles contained in the shipment were inspected and found to be free of apple snails and
• The pest is not known to exist in the nursery or site from which the shipment or regulated articles originated.

Certification of Florida Nursery Stock (Including Aquatic Plants)

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has no record of apple snails infesting nursery stock outside of an aquatic environment and has negotiated an alternate certification procedure with Mississippi for shipments of nursery stock from Florida.

Steps to Certification

• Step 1: Meet with your local FDACS plant inspector and sign the Apple Snail Compliance Agreement.
• Step 2: Complete and submit a Request for Authorization to Print Certificates (Tags) of Inspection[ ]. FDACS will authorize a printer of your choice to manufacture the stamp; you will incur any charges from the printer.
• Step 3: Imprint the stamp on the invoice or bill of lading to accompany the shipment. Remember to also include the imprint of your general nursery certification stamp on those documents.

Note: If apple snails are known to be in the nursery or production area, the nursery is not eligible for a compliance agreement and the plants must be fumigated before shipment (see Section 4B of the Emergency Apple Snail Regulation [ 10.7 kB ] ). Your local inspector will witness and record details of the treatment on a state phytosanitary certificate.