APHIS Final Rule Allows Untreated Oranges, Tangerines, and Grapefruit from Mexico to Transit the U.S. to Foreign Countries
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective October 23, 2006, which amends 7 CFR Part 352 in order to allow untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico to be moved overland by truck or rail to Corpus Christi and Houston, TX, for export to another country by water. APHIS is also requiring that untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico transiting the U.S. for export to another country be shipped in sealed, refrigerated containers and insect-proof packaging and via routes that avoid citrus production areas.
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Highlights of APHIS' Final Rule on Untreated Oranges, Tangerines, and Grapefruit from Mexico
APHIS is amending 7 CFR Part 352 in order to provide additional protection against the possible introduction of fruit flies via untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico that transit the U.S., as described below (partial list):
Inspector must be contacted immediately if seal is broken, etc. APHIS is adding a requirement that an inspector at the port of entry must be contacted immediately if the seal on a container of untreated oranges, tangerines, or grapefruit is broken, for any reason, before the container leaves the U.S. APHIS notes that the inspector will then be able to assess the situation and take appropriate action to reduce the risk of introducing fruit flies.
Transloading must be supervised by an inspector and official replacement seal must be applied. APHIS is also requiring that, if untreated fruit from Mexico is transloaded to another container, the transloading must be supervised by an inspector and a replacement official seal must be applied to the container to which the fruit is moved.
Refrigerated containers must be maintained at 60 F or less. APHIS' final rule also specifies that the temperature in refrigerated containers must be maintained at 60 F or lower. APHIS notes that refrigerating the containers to this temperature will inhibit pupation in any fruit flies that may be present in the untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit, thereby preventing the fruit flies from emerging from the containers into the U.S.
Transportation and exportation permit must be issued by APHIS headquarters. APHIS is adding a requirement that a transportation and exportation permit must be issued by an inspector for shipments of these fruits. APHIS notes that this permit can only be obtained from APHIS headquarters.
Shipments must move in U.S. Customs bond. APHIS states that it is requiring that all shipments of untreated oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit from Mexico through the U.S. must move in U.S. Customs bond. (Previously, APHIS had required that air and rail shipments of these fruits move in U.S. Customs bond; this final rule extends that requirement to shipments transported by truck and vessel.)
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/07/01 news, 01120799 4, for BP summary of the proposed rule.)
APHIS Contact - Dave Hanken (301) 734-8295
APHIS Final Rule (D/N 00-086-2, FR Pub 08/23/06) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-13986.pdf