APHIS Establishes New Oriental Fruit Fly Regulated Area in the Cupertino Area of Santa Clara County, California

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2015-47

August 17, 2015

Subject: APHIS Establishes New Oriental Fruit Fly (OFF) Regulated Area in the Cupertino Area of Santa Clara County, California

To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective June 23, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a new Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis or OFF) regulated area in the Cupertino area of Santa Clara, California. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area. This OFF outbreak is considered to be transient, actionable, and under eradication.

Between June 22 and June 23, six adult Oriental fruit flies were detected in Cupertino, California. These confirmed Oriental fruit flies triggered the establishment of the new OFF quarantine, which encompasses approximately 89 square miles of Santa Clara County, California.

APHIS is working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the Agricultural Commissioner of Santa Clara County to respond to these detections following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of OFF to non-infested areas of the United States.

The establishment of this regulated area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current Federal fruit fly regulated areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fruit_flies/quarantine.shtml

For additional information on the OFF Eradication Program, you may call the National Policy Manager John Stewart at 919-855-7426.

/s/

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine