APHIS Establishes a European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Quarantine in the Niagara Area of Niagara County, New York

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2018-17

June 7, 2018

 

Subject:          APHIS Establishes a European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Quarantine in the Niagara Area of Niagara County, New York

To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

 

Effective June 7, 2018 the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) quarantine in Niagara County, New York. The area contains 52.7 acres of commercial cherry production; therefore, APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area. This measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that NYSDAM initiated on June 4, 2018.

 

 

During September and October 2017, APHIS confirmed ECFF in traps placed in wild honeysuckle and sweet cherry on state and public lands along the Niagara River, Niagara County, New York. In cooperation with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), APHIS is responding to these confirmed detections with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 92 square miles of Niagara County. APHIS is working with NYSDAM to respond to these detections following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of ECFF 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 European cherry fruit fly quarantine area, please contact National Fruit Fly Policy Manager John Stewart at 919-855-7426.

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine