APHIS Amends Import Requirements for Citrus from Australia

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2021-24

August 20, 2021

 

 

Subject:  APHIS Amends Import Requirements for Citrus from Australia

 

To:  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is revising the entry requirements for citrus fruit from the Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia in Australia. This revision is necessary because both Riverina and Sunraysia no longer meet the requirements to be considered fruit fly free areas for Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni or QFF). This action applies to the importation of the following fresh citrus species, when produced in either district:

• Grapefruit, Citrus x paradisi
• Lemons, Citrus x meyeri Tanaka and Citrus x limon (L.) Burm. f.
• Lime, Citrus aurantiifolia, Citrus latfolia
• Mandarins, clementines and tangerines, including satsumas, and other fruits grown from this species or its hybrids, Citrus reticulata Blanco
• Oranges, Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck
• Tangelo, Citrus paradisi x reticulata, Citrus x tangelo Ingram & Moore
• Tangor, Citrus x nobilis Lour

APHIS is now requiring in transit cold treatment for the aforementioned citrus varieties when originating in regulated areas for QFF, including the Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia. APHIS will require treatment of citrus prior to entering the United States, as listed in the table below:  

 

Commodity	Treatment Schedule
Grapefruit	T107-d or T107-d-3
Lemon	T107-d or T107-d-3
Lime	T107-d
Mandarin/Clementine/Tangerine	T107-d or T107-d-2
Orange	T107-d or T107-d-2
Tangelo	T107-d or T107-d-2
Tangor	T107-d or T107-d-2

 

Fresh citrus fruit from designated fruit fly free areas in Australia may continue to be exported with a phytosanitary certificate and without cold treatment for Queensland fruit fly.

APHIS is taking this action in response to detections of Queensland fruit fly in the Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia in Australia. Under this Federal Order, fresh citrus fruit from areas where Queensland fruit fly is present must be treated in accordance to 7 CFR 305, which is an APHIS approved treatment schedules for Queensland fruit fly. 

 

For additional information regarding this Federal Order, please call Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist Tony Román at 301-851-2242 or e-mail at Juan.A.Roman@usda.gov.

 

 

 

/s/

Dr. Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine

 

Attachment: Federal Order