The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is authorizing importation of fresh sand pears from all prefectures of Japan into the United States. After careful analysis, APHIS scientists have determined that sand pears from all production areas of Japan (excluding Amami, Bonin, Ryukyu, Tokara, and the Volcano Islands) can be safely imported under the current import requirements.
Currently, sand pears may only be imported from certain authorized production areas within Japan. No quarantine pests have been intercepted on sand pears inspected at ports of entry since the United States granted market access in 1985. APHIS experts developed a commodity import evaluation document, offered it for public review and carefully considered all comments received on the document. Based on that review, APHIS has determined that applying designated phytosanitary measures will effectively mitigate the risk of introducing or spreading plant pests or noxious weeds through import of this commodity. The measures include that all sand pears must be bagged on trees to exclude pests, sand pears must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of Japan. Only commercial consignments imported under permit are allowed. This action will be effective the day of publication on April 16, 2020. These revised conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements database here: https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual. To view the notice, pest list, CIED, economic evaluation assessment, and the comments that we received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2019-0057.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
