APHIS Restricts the Entry of European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Host Commodities from Canada into the United States

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2017-15

May 23, 2017

Subject: APHIS Restricts the Entry of European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Host Commodities from Canada into the United States

To:        State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is implementing restrictions for the importation of European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) host commodities from Canada into the United States. APHIS is taking this action in response to multiple detections of ECFF in the province of Ontario, Canada.

To prevent the introduction of ECFF into the United States, APHIS is prohibiting entry of fresh fruit of the following commodities from Ontario, Canada: black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), and sweet cherry (P. avium). Wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits are also hosts and therefore prohibited. APHIS is also requiring that imports of these commodities from a Canadian province other than Ontario must have their origin verified.  Origin may be verified by shipping documents (such as bill of lading) or other proof of origin acceptable to APHIS.

Until ECFF was found in Ontario, these commodities were enterable into the United States from all provinces of Canada with inspection at the first port of entry. Due to the pest risk described above, APHIS has determined that prohibitions and additional entry requirements are immediately necessary to prevent the entry of ECFF into the United States on the commodities mentioned above.

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please contact Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist Marc Phillips at 301-851-2114 or via email at Marc.Phillips@aphis.usda.gov.

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

 

 

FEDERAL ORDER

European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Host Material from Ontario, Canada.

DA-2017-15

May 23, 2017

 

This Federal Order suspends the importation of the following European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) host fruit from Ontario, Canada: black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), and sweet cherry (P. avium). Wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits are also hosts and therefore prohibited. This prohibition is effective immediately. APHIS has also determined that additional entry requirements are immediately necessary for the importation of these commodities from provinces other than Ontario, Canada.

This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the regulatory authority provided by the Plant Protection Act of June 20, 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article, if the Secretary determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a plant pest within the United States.

The purpose of this Federal Order is to prevent the entry or introduction of ECFF, a harmful plant pest, from Canada into the United States. ECFF is a temperate fruit flyspecies, ranging from Europe to temperate Asia. This fruit fly is a serious economic pest of commercial cherries in Europe, both sweet and sour.  ECFF is not known to occur in the United States, and it is estimated that the species would be able to establish populations in northern regions of the United States (Plant Hardiness Zones 2 – 6 or 7).

On February 4, 2016, USDA identified a fruit fly photographed in Mississauga, Ontario, as likely ECFF. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) began surveys for this pest in Ontario in April 2016 and, in June 2016, confirmed to APHIS the positive detection of ECFF on honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) in southeastern Ontario. On September 1, 2016, CFIA provided a final map of 2016 ECFF survey activities with five positive detection sites, including the bridge between the United States and Canada at Niagara Falls. CFIA will be issuing a directive prohibiting the movement of fresh cherries from Ontario to British Columbia, and restricting all other movement of fresh cherries to those shipments that originate from orchards that are subject to control measures and that have been inspected by CFIA and determined to be free from ECFF.

The APHIS Administrator has determined that the introduction and establishment of ECFF poses a serious threat to United States agriculture, including certain fruits grown in the United States. Due to the presence ofECFF in Ontario, Canada, APHIS has decided to suspend the importation of the following host fruit from that province:  black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), and sweet cherry (P. avium). Wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits are also hosts and therefore prohibited.

APHIS has also determined that additional entry requirements are immediately necessary for the importation of these commodities from provinces other than Ontario, Canada. Therefore, effective immediately, all fresh fruit of the commodities mentioned above must originate from a province other than Ontario, Canada, as verified by shipping documents or other proof of origin acceptable to APHIS.    

These restrictions to prevent the introduction and establishment of ECFF are immediately needed and warranted to address plant pest risks associated with currently admissible ECFF host commodities.

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please contact Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist Marc Phillips at 301-851-2114, or via email at Marc.Phillips@aphis.usda.gov.