1The purpose of these rules is to declare the giant African land snail a nuisance capable of causing harm to the public, as a plant pest of agricultural and landscape plants and to establish procedures for conducting a program to delimit, contain and eradicate the giant African land snail as defined in subsection 545B-67.001(2), 55F.A.C., in the State of Florida. This rule chapter designates the size of quarantine areas and the requirements for the movement and certification of regulated articles. It also designates the size of treatment areas and the procedures for conducting treatments, outlines program mitigative measures and sets forth the requirements for declaring eradication. The giant African land snail is hereby declared a public and agricultural nuisance due to its detection in Miami/Dade County, its ability to rapidly reproduce, its ability to feed on over 500 different plant species, damage stucco and concrete surfaces, and its ability to harbor rat lung worm which can transmit a form of meningitis to humans.
