APHIS Restricts Imports of Mediterranean Fruit Fly Host Commodities from the Dominican Republic

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 01/08/2016 12:04 PM EST

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APHIS Amends the Federal Order Restricting Imports of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Host Commodities from the Dominican Republic into or through the United States

 

 

Effective immediately, APHIS is amending the restrictions on imports of certain fruits and vegetables from the Dominican Republic into the United States by allowing the entry of restricted Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) host material from the provinces of:

 

    • Azúa
    • Independencia
    • San Cristobal
    • Baoruco
    • La Vega
    • San José de Ocoa
    • Barahona
    • Maria Trinidad Sanchez
    • San Juan
    • Dajabón
    • Monseñor Nouel
    • Sanchez Ramírez
    • Duarte
    • Monte Cristi
    • Santiago
    • Elías Piña
    • Espaillat
    • Hermanas Mirabal
    • Pedernales
    • Peravia
    • Puerto Plata
    • Santiago Rodríguez
    • Valverde

 

On March 18, 2015, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2015-14 to prevent the introduction of medfly into the United States by suspending U.S. imports of certain fruit and vegetable medfly hosts from the Dominican Republic. Federal Order DA-2015-14 listed the following hosts:

 

    • avocado
    • longan
    • pepper
    • clementine
    • mamey (sapote)
    • pummelo
    • grape
    • mandarin
    • tangelo
    • grapefruit
    • mango
    • tangerine
    • lemon
    • orange
    • tomato
    • litchi
    • papaya
    • tuna (cactus fruit)

 

Based on a site visit and a review of production practices and medfly trapping and eradication activities, we have determined that commercial consignments of the commodities listed in Federal Order DA-2015-014 may now be imported into the United States under the following conditions:

  • They must originate from areas of the Dominican Republic that do not present a risk of introducing medfly into the United States.
  • The movement of restricted medfly host material from non-restricted areas must be done in exclusionary containers to prevent the contamination of host material that is destined for export to the United States.
  • Shipments must be inspected and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that is issued by the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture and that indicates the province of origin in the Dominican Republic.

Commercial shipments of mangoes from the Dominican Republic continue to be enterable under the conditions of the APHIS hot water treatment preclearance program. In addition, the Dominican Republic has completed the requirements to allow irradiation of mangoes in the United States upon entry. The mangoes must be irradiated at an APHIS-approved irradiation facility with a minimum absorbed dose of 400 gy in the United States and must follow the requirements of 7 CFR parts 305 and 319.

 

Per Federal Order DA-2015-25 (dated April 28, 2015), Hass avocadoes and green tomatoes are still enterable from restricted areas.

 

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please call the Customer Service Center at (301) 851-2046 or write to PPQ.FAVIR.Comments@aphis.usda.gov.

 

 

 

 

Plant Health Import Information: Federal Import Orders

 

Federal Order DA-2016-03