INTERNATIONAL MAIL AS A PATHWAY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF EXOTIC PLANT PESTS INTO AND WITHIN THE GREATER CARIBBEAN REGION

L. Ferguson, A. Lemay and H. Meissner

No 256337, 45th Annual Meeting, July 12-17, 2009, Frigate Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis from Caribbean Food Crops Society

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of pest movement associated with the international mail pathway in the Greater Caribbean Region (GCR6). We examined data on materials of phytosanitary significance (MPS) intercepted in mail, and developed suggestions for improved safeguarding. Of packages sent to the United States from worldwide origins, 2.7% of public and 5.6% of private mail packages contained MPS. Of packages sent from GCR origins by public and private mail, 3.3% and 1.6%, respectively, contained MPS. The United States receives more public than private mail. In other GCR countries, however, private postal services dominate the parcel market. High-risk items found in mail included propagative materials (1/3 of intercepted materials) and live insects. Fresh fruits, vegetables, soil, and wood items were also intercepted. We estimated that the GCR (excluding the United States) may annually receive over 14,000 mail packages containing MPS, with up to 4,000 of these being propagative materials. International mail may be the pathway of choice for intentional smuggling of high-risk items. This work was carried out in the framework of the CISWG Caribbean Pathway Analysis. The complete report can be accessed at: http://carribeandoc. ncsu.edu/index.htm.

Keywords: International Relations/Trade; Risk and Uncertainty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 8
Date: 2009-07-12
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:cfcs09:256337

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.256337

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