Washington, D.C., [April 30, 2019] - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has prepared and is accepting comments on a pest risk analysis regarding the importation of fresh citrus fruit from China into the continental United States. After thorough analysis, APHIS scientists determined pomelo, Nanfeng honey mandarin, ponkan, sweet orange, and Satsuma mandarin fruit from China can be safely imported into the United States under a systems approach to protect against the introduction of plant pests. A systems approach is a series of measures taken by growers, packers, and shippers that, in combination, minimize pest risks prior to importation into the United States. In this case, the systems approach includes importation in commercial consignments only, registration of places of production and packinghouses, certification of propagative material as being free of quarantine pests, periodic inspections of places of production, grove sanitation, and postharvest disinfection and treatment. In addition, pomelo fruit must be bagged on trees more than two months prior to harvest. APHIS will carefully consider all comments received by July 1, 2019. This notice may be viewed in today’s Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/01/2019-08767/pest-risk-analysis-importation-of-fresh-citrus-from-china-into-the-continental-united-states. Beginning on May 1, 2019, members of the public will be able to submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2014-0005. After reviewing all comments, APHIS will announce its final decision in a subsequent notice in the Federal Register.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
