APHIS Removes the Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Area in Laredo, Webb County, and Zapata, Zapata County, Texas

The following Stakeholder Message was published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Sept. 29, 2020. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2020-20

Sept. 29, 2020 To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials On September 13 and 14, 2020, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines after three Mexfly life-cycles elapsed with no additional detections in these areas.APHIS works cooperatively with TDA to eradicate the transient Mexfly populations through various control actions per program protocols. The following website contains a description of all the current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas:http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantineFor additional information on the Mexfly program, please contact Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109. /s/

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service