Subject: Federal Order for U.S. Imports of Host Materials of Tomato Leafminer (Phthorimaea absoluta)

To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

The purpose of the attached Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of the tomato leafminer, Phthorimaea absoluta (formerly Tuta absoluta), into the United States. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) previously issued Federal Orders that imposed import requirements for tomato leafminer hosts from infested countries. 

This Federal Order, effective March 31, 2023, replaces the current Federal Order DA-2019-18 and any previous T. absoluta Federal Orders. This Federal Order updates the list of countries infested by tomato leafminer to include Trinidad and Tobago. The following 33 countries have market access for tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) into the United States if they are able to meet the import requirements of this Federal Order in addition to existing import requirements targeting other pests:

Algeria

Belgium

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Chile

Costa Rica

Cote D’Ivoire

Cyprus

France

Gambia

GhanaGreece

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Haiti

Israel

Italy

Liberia

Mali

Morocco

Netherlands

Niger

NigeriaPanama

Poland

Portugal

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Spain

Togo

Trinidad and Tobago

United Kingdom

This Federal Order also includes a list of countries considered infested with tomato leafminer, and prohibits imports of two propagative host materials, Datura spp. and Salpichroa spp., and synonyms, except seeds, from these specific countries.

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please contact Regulatory Policy Specialist Ms. Julie Orr at 301-851-4022, or via email at Julie.Orr@usda.gov.

Dr. Mark L DavidsonDeputy AdministratorPlant Protection and Quarantine

Attachment: Federal Order

Original source can be found here.