APHIS Establishes an Amended Host List for the Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens)

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2021-17
July 14, 2021

 

 Subject:         APHIS Establishes an Amended Host List for the Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens)

 

To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has established an updated regulated host list for the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly), Anastrepha ludens (Loew). The Mexfly is a destructive fruit fly that is native to Mexico and Central America but is not endemic to the United States. The Mexfly attacks more than 45 commercial varieties of fruits and vegetables as described in the revised Federal host list. This action is necessary due to the ongoing Mexfly quarantine in Texas. APHIS will use the new host list for domestic federal regulation of Mexfly hosts when establishing quarantines for this pest.

APHIS will regulate the interstate movement of Mexfly host articles from all quarantine areas in the United States in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 301.32), and any applicable provisions of this and other Federal Orders. Since the regulations in 7 CFR 301.32 do not list all the known regulated (host) articles for the Mexfly, those articles are listed in the link below. Fruit of the plant species listed in the attached Federal Order are now considered regulated articles for Mexfly, and they are subject to all the requirements of 7 CFR 301.32. APHIS has posted this amended host list on its Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection Program website:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff

The current Mexfly quarantine map and narrative description is posted on the following website:

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

For additional information on the Mexfly program, please contact Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109.

 

/s/

Dr. Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

 

Attachments: Federal Order, Mexican Fruit Fly Host List