Considering the importance of the phytosanitary issue , and the likelihood of it continuing--why don't we start considering phytosanitary issues and delays as being "on-topic"?. Apparently there is a new set of standards being considered for international uniformity which derives its concerns not only from terrorist concerns, but from anxiety and concern about genetically engineered seeds and plants, which might be used as vehicles for terrorist goals. being issued by the Secretariat of the International Plant Proection Convention , Food and Agriculture Organizationn of the U.N.. Jacques Diouf, Director-General. For example, there is current research on transgenic corn which would carry a gene to protect against E.coli just as a result of eating it, and another line of research which would protect against HIV infection. (Chicago Tribune Magazine Section, September 9, 2007) . Most of you are probably already aware of the transgenic corn pollen which destroyed thousands of Monarch Butterflies. Given this, what is to keep a bio-terrorist from using similar methods to infect or destroy a population of people? Without answering the questions implied here, the issue of how one guards against this bio-terrorist eventuality by developing and writing regulations for the inspection and transport of seed between countries becomes an enormous task. Relevant questions for governments are: What kind of inspection is even possible? What kinds of quarantines are facing us in the future? I think that much of the present concern we're seeing is motivated in part by some of the above issues. So, growing decorative plants from seed from other places may become much more restrictive in the near future, and perhaps for a long time. ----- Original Message ----- From: <pbs-request@lists.ibiblio.org> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 11:00 AM Subject: pbs Digest, Vol 56, Issue 14