APHIS Proposes to Allow the Importation of Fresh Cape Gooseberry Fruit from Ecuador
Washington, D.C. – the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to allow imports of fresh cape gooseberry fruit from Ecuador into the continental United States. After careful analysis, APHIS scientists determined that these cape gooseberries can be safely imported under a systems approach to protect against the introduction of the Mediterranean fruit fly.
A systems approach is a series of measures taken by growers, packers, and shippers that, in combination, minimize pest risks prior to importation into the United States. In this case, the systems approach requires the establishment of pest-free places of production, labeling of boxes prior to shipping, and inspection of fruit after it is harvested. A phytosanitary certificate stating that the cape gooseberries meet these conditions must also accompany all shipments.
APHIS will carefully consider all comments received by June 19, 2018. This notice may be viewed in today’s Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/20/2018-08251/imports-fresh-cape-gooseberry-fruit-from-ecuador-to-the-continental-united-states. Beginning tomorrow, members of the public will be able to submit comments at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0009
APHIS Proposes to Amend Import Regulations for Peppers from the Republic of Korea
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend its import regulations for peppers from the Republic of Korea. This commodity is currently allowed into the United States if it is grown in insect-proof greenhouses equipped with double self-closing doors and 0.6mm screening over any openings other than the doors. The amendment allows the mesh size of required screening to increase from 0.6 mm to 1.6 mm and requires the use of colored sticky traps as an additional pest monitoring measure.
Korea’s national plant protection organization requested the change because the smaller openings reduce air flow and increase humidity, causing mold growth that impacts fruit quality and hampers exports. APHIS scientists evaluated this request and determined that there is no additional pest risk related to the change in mesh size when used with other mitigations. This action satisfies our commitment under the International Plant Protection Convention to authorize the importation of plants and plant products subject to the least restrictive phytosanitary measures and would allow Korea to reestablish pepper exports to the United States.
APHIS will carefully consider all comments received by June 19, 2018. This notice may be viewed in today’s Federal Register at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/20/2018-08250/imports-peppers-from-the-republic-of-korea-mesh-screening-size. Beginning tomorrow, members of the public will be able to submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0094
Source: USDA APHIS
