State agricultural inspectors are working quickly to clear Hawai'i potted plants bound for the Mainland under a new quarantine procedure.

The quarantine was issued Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and requires all plant material destined for the Mainland to be inspected for light brown apple moth, which is a major pest to Mainland fruit growers.

California, the biggest importer of Hawai'i plants, has said it will allow plants in without inspection certificates through May 9.

However, Florida, the second-biggest importer, has said the quarantine is in effect immediately, officials said.

The state Department of Agriculture is responsible for inspections of Mainland-bound potted plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects all other outbound plant materials, including lei.

Light brown apple moth have been in the Islands for at least 100 years, but only recently they have done significant damage to fruit trees in some counties of California, and there is concern they could spread to other areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the quarantine as a "safety measure."

In Hawai'i, light brown apple moth are harmless and are usually found at higher elevations.

Domingo Cravalho Jr., state Agriculture Department plant quarantine import and compliance section chief, said the department has instituted emergency procedures to meet the new demand for inspections. The state has 30 inspectors on O'ahu and 14 on the Big Island, where most of the growers are located.

"We're trying to work through the process. We're trying every which way," Cravalho said.