California’s Food & Agriculture
Code Section 403 requires that, "The department shall prevent the
introduction and spread of injurious insect or animal pests, plant
diseases, and noxious weeds."
The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) has
developed a pest policy which recognizes that organisms vary as to their
potential and actual harm to California’s agriculture and environment.
This significance becomes the basis for determining what to do or not do
about a particular pest.
CDFA has established an action oriented pest rating system to serve
as a guide for CDFA biologists, ag commissioners, and other interested
parties. These ratings are intended to provide information regarding a
pest’s environmental, agricultural, and/or biological significance and
the action recommended by CDFA to deal with the pest:
"A" - Organism of known economic importance subject to state (or ag
commissioner) enforced action such as:
- Quarantine Regulation & Exclusion
- Rejection
- Eradication
- Containment
- Holding Actions
Examples: Spotted & Squarrose Knapweeds, Musk
& Scotch Thistles
"B" - Organism of known economic importance subject, at the
discretion of the agricultural commissioner, to:
- Eradication
- Containment
- Control
- Holding Actions
Examples: Canada Thistle, Purple Loosestrife
"C" - Organism subject to no state enforced action outside of
nurseries except to retard spread. Control or eradication, as local
conditions warrant, at the agricultural commissioner’s discretion.
Examples: Yellow Star thistle, Scotch & French
Brooms, Medusahead
"Q" - Organism requiring a temporary "A" rating pending
determination of a permanent rating. The organism is suspected to be of
economic importance but its status is uncertain because of incomplete
identification, inadequate information, etc.
Example: Rattlebox