APHIS Final Rule Allows Importation of Certain Untreated Citrus from Mexico for Juice Extraction
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective July 10, 2006, which amends 7 CFR Part 319 in order to provide for the importation of untreated citrus (grapefruit, sweet oranges, and tangerines) from Mexico for processing (i.e., extracting juice) under certain conditions. APHIS believes that the conditions of this final rule will be sufficient for safeguarding fruit that are moving from Mexico to Texas.
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Highlights of Conditions for Importing Untreated Citrus from Mexico
APHIS has added a new 7 CFR 319.56-2rr, which provides that such untreated citrus may be imported into the U.S. from Mexico for extracting juice if they originate from production sites in Mexico that are approved by APHIS because they meet the following conditions and any other conditions determined by the APHIS Administrator to be necessary to mitigate the pest risk that such fruits pose (partial details):
Safeguarding. Fruit must be safeguarded against fruit fly infestation using methods approved by APHIS from the time of harvest until processing in the U.S.
Phytosanitary Certificate. Each shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by Mexico's national plant protection organization and must contain certain declarations.
Ports and processing plants. The harvested fruit may enter the U.S. only through a port of entry located in one of the Texas counties listed in 7 CFR 301.64-3(c) and processing plants within the U.S. must be located within an area in Texas that is under an APHIS-approved preventative release program using sterile insect technique for the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens).
Route of transit and import permit. Harvested fruit must travel on the most direct route to the processing plant from its point of entry into the U.S. as specified in the import permit. (Although this new section makes no further mention of the requirement for an import permit, APHIS sources state that the requirement for an import permit can be found at 7 CFR 319.56-2(e).)
Compliance agreements. Processing plants in the U.S. must enter into specified compliance agreements with APHIS.
See final rule for additional requirements, including the application of sterile insect technique, fruit fly trapping programs for Mexican fruit fly, sapote fruit fly, and the Mediterranean fruit fly, safeguarding of fruit, and for discussion of comments received in response to the proposed rule, etc.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 04/11/05 news, 05041120, for BP summary of the proposed rule.)
APHIS Contact - David Lamb (301) 734-4312
APHIS Final Rule (D/N 03-048-3, FR Pub 06/08/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-8935.pdf