APHIS Updates Scientific and Common Name for Commercially Grown Dragon Fruit

APHIS has updated the Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements (FAVIR) database, the Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database, the Miscellaneous and Processed Products Import Manual, and the Treatment Manual to reflect the current taxonomy and accepted common name for commodities imported as "pitahaya," "pitaya," and "yellow pitahaya." Effective today, commodities classified as Hylocereus and Selenicereus species are listed as dragon fruit.

The new taxonomy and common name of commercially grown dragon fruit and yellow dragon fruit does not change APHIS's import phytosanitary requirements, market access, or the conditions for importation from approved countries of origin. An import permit previously issued under the genus Hylocereus is valid until its expiration date; new permits will be issued under the genus Selenicereus.

Commercially grown dragon fruit and yellow dragon fruit include the following species:

• Selenicereus costaricensis
• Selenicereus guatemalensis
• Selenicereus megalanthus
• Selenicereus monocanthus
• Selenicereus ocamponis
• Selenicereus undatus

Amy L. Frevert
USDA-APHIS-PPQ-IRM-ISMU
Technical Writer/Editor
amy.l.frevert@usda.gov