Washington, D.C., Aug. 17, 2021 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is expanding the production areas in Australia authorized to import fresh citrus fruit into the United States and is revising the conditions under which citrus from Australia may be imported.Currently, imports of fresh citrus fruit are allowed into the United States from the Riverina region of New South Wales District, the Riverland region of South Australia, and the Sunraysia region in Northwest Victoria District. APHIS is authorizing three additional areas of Australia to export citrus to the continental United States: the inland region of Queensland, the regions that compose Western Australia, and the shires of Bourke and Narromine within New South Wales District.APHIS scientists prepared a pest risk assessment (PRA) and a commodity import evaluation document (CIED). The CIED identifies the phytosanitary measures that could be applied to ensure citrus fruit from new areas of Australia can be safely imported without increasing the risk of introducing pests. Citrus from the expanded areas of Australia must meet the following phytosanitary measures:Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, APHIS determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will sufficiently mitigate the risks of plant pests and noxious weeds. The changes go into effect on Aug. 18, 2021.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
