The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is pleased to announce the inclusion of a Fruit and Vegetable Name Validation List to verify spellings on the APHIS Core Message Set website. The list provides genus, species, subspecies, and variety names (PG05) along with corresponding common names (PG17). This list does not represent commodities that may or may not be admissible but provides the acceptable spellings for listed names and provides the corresponding Integrated Taxonomic Information Systems (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN). This list is not all-encompassing; if the genus, species, subspecies, or variety does not appear on this list, use the format that appears on the associated phytosanitary certificate and commercial invoice. PPQ will update the list as necessary and provide the date of the most recent update.

This list may also be downloaded by software vendors for use with the PG10 category AP0600 (Fruits and Vegetables) only. By integrating the list into ABI software, filers have a single fruit and vegetable commodity list which increases the quality of data submitted. This increases compliance with APHIS Core Message Set policies and APHIS regulations, facilitating the import process and improving the movement of cargo into U.S. commerce without delays.

As a reminder, when reporting AP0600 PG26 units of measure, packing level one should be reported as KG (kilogram), packing level two as NO (number count), and packing level 3 as either BG, BX, CS, CT, or PKG (bag, box, case, carton or package).

For help with the APHIS Core Message Set filing, please visit our website, send an email to ace.itds@usda.gov, or call our help desk at 1-833-481-2102.