State agriculture officials said a new plant export quarantine that began this week will have a limited immediate impact on growers and others who send plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables to the Mainland.

On Wednesday, the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture included the entire state of Hawai'i in a quarantine to restrict the spread of an invasive insect — the light brown apple moth — which has been long established in the Islands but turned up in California recently.

The moth concerns federal officials and growers because it attacks grapes, apples, citrus and other crops.

Hawai'i growers could export their fresh products without delay here but face problems once their products arrive at their destination, said Domingo Cravalho Jr. of state Department of Agriculture. Whether there's a delay depends on how other states and counties interpret the federal order.

Cravalho said the order requires inspection but it's not yet clear what documentation will be needed. He said California authorities have said Hawai'i will get a grace period until May 9 to gear up for the quarantine.

"We are advising certified shippers to have additional inspections conducted on each shipment to minimize the chance that plant materials will be rejected on the Mainland," Cravalho said. "Our inspectors are preparing to issue a separate inspection certificate attesting that the shipment is apparently free of the light brown apple moth."

Larry Hawkins, a USDA spokesman in California, said the federal order provides safeguards for growers.

"The idea isn't to stop commodity movement," Hawkins said. He said the order helps prevent rumors such as, "I hear they have light brown apple moth, so let's not buy anything from them."

The local office of the USDA said that impact on the Hawai'i fresh product industry should be limited. Dorothy Alontaga, who specializes in plant protection quarantine, said that Hawai'i's tight regulations exceed most other states' because state agriculture officials inspect for a variety of pests.

"We are already under quarantine in Hawai'i," she said. So people leaving the state with lei, flowers and plants should not be delayed by the change, she said.

But Cravalho said the state would have to handle any additional inspections with the staff they have.

"There may be a potential for delay," he said.

Cravalho said the state also will set traps around some 300 nurseries statewide to find how widespread the moth is.

He said if it can be established that the moth is not present in areas where the products are being grown, the federal order could be limited or lifted for Hawai'i.

Alontaga advises people shipping plants to check with the state Department of Agriculture.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.