OREANDA-NEWS. September 05, 2016. USDA APHIS is seeking comments on several proposed rules to amend the import requirements on several fruits from several different countries.

The first is fresh lemons from Chile into the continental United States. The proposed rule will be available for review and comments until September 26, 2016. The proposed rule amends the importation requirements to allow commercial consignments of Chilean lemons provided that:

  • the production site where the fruit is grown is registered annually with the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Chile and certified as a low pest prevalence production site;
  • shipments are subject to post-harvest processing and phytosanitary inspection in Chile at an APHIS-approved inspection site;
  • any shipment that does not pass the initial inspection may still be imported if fumigated with methyl bromide in Chile or at the post of first entry into the United States;
  • all consignments are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the NPPO of Chile containing an additional declaration that the fruit was produced according to the import requirements.

To comment on the proposed rule amendment by September 26, 2016, visit:  http://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=APHIS-2015-0051-0037

The second is raspberries from Morocco. This proposed rule is available for comment until October 25, 2016. The proposed rule change will allow Moroccan raspberries into the continental U.S. provided that registration of growing areas with the government of Morocco is completed along with inspections, and issuance of a phytosanitary certificate stating the fruit is free of fungus. To comment on this rule visit:  http://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=APHIS-2015-0053-0001

The third rule change concerns persimmons from New Zealand. APHIS has determined that the fruit can be safely imported into the U.S. for commercial consignment only provided that:

  • persimmon-producing orchards and packinghouses are registered and approved by the National Plant Protection Organization of New Zealand;
  • persimmons must meet requirements for orchard pest control, post-harvest safeguards, fruit culling, the ability to trace back shipments to the orchard where they were grown, and treatment with either hot water or modified atmosphere treatment before shipment;
  • persimmons must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that they were produced under, and meet all the components of, the systems approach;
  • persimmons must be inspected and found to be free of quarantine pests in accordance with the proposed requirements.

This proposed rule is available for comment until October 25, 2016. Comments can be submitted online at  http://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=APHIS-2015-0052-0001 .