APHIS Establishes Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine in the Half Moon Bay Area of San Mateo County, California

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2018-02

February 5, 2018

 

Subject:          APHIS Establishes Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata) Quarantine in the Half Moon Bay Area of San Mateo County, California

To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective November 22, 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 the Half Moon Bay area of San Mateo 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 November 14, 2017, CDFA and San Mateo County program staff trapped the first adult male Medfly in the area of Half Moon Bay, California. CDFA confirmed an additional male Medfly on November 22, 2017, triggering the federal and state quarantine. Currently, the quarantine area encompasses approximately 56 square miles. APHIS is working with CDFA and the San Mateo 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