APHIS Establishes Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine in the Sun Valley Area of Los Angeles County, California

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2017-30

September 14, 2017

                                                                                                                                       

 

Subject:          APHIS Establishes Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine in the Sun Valley Area of Los Angeles County, California

 

To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective August 30, 2017, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) established a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in a residential area of Sun Valley, Los Angeles County, California. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.

 

On August 17, 2017, CDFA confirmed a single adult Medfly in Sun Valley. CDFA confirmed two additional adult Medflies on August 30, which triggered a new quarantine area. Additional detections occurred subsequently and, to date, CDFA has confirmed a total of 12 adult Medflies and 55 larvae from 12 residential sites. In cooperation with CDFA, APHIS is responding to the confirmed detections with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 89 square miles of Los Angeles County. APHIS is working with CDFA and the Los Angeles County Agriculture Commissioner’s office to respond to these detections following program survey, treatment, and quarantine protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Medfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

 

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

 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine

 

For additional information on the Medfly quarantine area, please contact National Fruit Fly Policy Manager John Stewart at 919-855-7426.

 

 

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine