Jul 21, 2014

USDA proposes allowing fresh apples from China

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on July 18 to allow the importation of fresh apples from China into the continental United States.

Phytosanitary measures will allow for the importation of fresh apples while preventing the introduction of new plant pests, according to APHIS.

“The USDA notice was expected for some time and is the next step in a very lengthy technical review,”said Jim Bair, president of the U.S. Apple Association. “We, our coalition partners and a technical committee of university scientists have been advocating a transparent and scientifically rigorous process for more than a decade, and in 2010 provided input to USDA on the list of pests that could be associated with Chinese apples. That committee is also reviewing last week’s proposal and will participate in the comment process.

“At the same time, industry partners continue to work to reinstate and expand access to the Chinese market for all U.S. apple varieties,”Bair said.

As a condition of entry, apples from areas in China in which the Oriental fruit fly is not known to exist would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that would include requirements for registration of places of production and packinghouses, inspection for quarantine pests at set intervals by the national plant protection organization of China, bagging of fruit, safeguarding, labeling and importation in commercial consignments, according to APHIS.

Apples from areas in China in which Oriental fruit fly is known to exist could be imported into the continental United States if, in addition to these requirements, the apples are treated with fumigation plus refrigeration. All apples from China would also be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that all conditions for the importation of the apples have been met and that the consignment of apples has been inspected and found free of quarantine pests, according to APHIS.

To comment on this proposal, click here, or mail or deliver comments to Docket No. APHIS-2014-0003, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.

The comment period will close on Sept. 16.

For more information, contact Marc Phillips, Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist, Regulatory Coordination and Compliance, PPQ, APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 156, Riverdale, MD 20737; 301-851-2114.