New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 2 - AGRICULTURE
Chapter 17 - IMPORTATION OF PLANTS AND PLANT MATERIAL
Subchapter 4 - TOMATO PLANTS
Section 2:17-4.5 - Movement into New Jersey of tomato transplants

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 2:17-4.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) In order to prevent the movement into New Jersey of diseased, insect-infested or substandard quality tomato plants, the State Board of Agriculture declares such plants to be a nuisance in New Jersey.

(b) All tomato 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 to be apparently free from injurious insects, nematodes and plant diseases, 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. Each such package shall also be labeled as to variety and number of transplants per container.

(d) The following standards apply to imported tomato transplants:

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 be free of fruit and excessive bloom;

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 tomato 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. Not severely clipped;

vi. Free from excessive nutrient deficiencies;

vii. Possessed of straight stems;

viii. Free from excessive weeds; and

ix. Possessed of stem length six to 11 inches from soil line to growing point, with a minimum stem diameter of 3/16 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 tomato transplant shipment in 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.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Jersey may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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