see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   California SENTRI Participant in Hot Water, CBP Finds Dope in Vehicle   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Los Angeles - For the first time in the United States, agriculture specialists of U.S. Customs and Border Protection have intercepted a fungal disease they found on cut flowers from Australia.

On June 27, an air cargo shipment containing 122 boxes of fresh cut flowers originating from Australia arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. A CBP agriculture specialist conducted an examination of a sampling of the flowers. The officer discovered a suspected fungus on the Xanthorrhoea flower, commonly called “grass tree.”

On June 30, a U.S. Department of Agriculture pathologist determined the suspect fungus was Ascochyta, or “die back” disease, intercepted by CBP for the first time in the nation on this variety of flower.

CBP gave the importer the option of destruction or exportation of the diseased flowers. The importer chose destruction. The flowers (10,000 stems from two boxes) were destroyed under CBP supervision.

“Had the diseased flowers been allowed into the U.S., the pathogenic and economic consequences could have been enormous,” said Kevin W. Weeks, CBP director of Los Angeles Field Operations. “Constant vigilance by CBP agriculture specialists cannot be over emphasized in protecting America’s agriculture.”

Die back disease, commonly occurring in Australia, can cause a wide range of destruction on field crops, ornamental plants and fruit trees. California is particularly susceptible since the disease can be established in warm, low humidity areas.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.