In the May 10, 2016, Federal Register, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ("APHIS") proposed to allow the importation of lemons from northwest Argentina into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, the lemons would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that would include: (i)requirements for importation in commercial consignments; (ii) registration and monitoring of places of production and packinghouses; (iii) pest-free places of production; (iv) grove sanitation, monitoring, and pest control practices; (v) treatment with a surface disinfectant; (vi)lot identification; and (vii)inspection for quarantine pests by the Argentine national plant protection organization. In addition, lemons would have to be harvested green (within a certain time period) or treated for the Mediterranean fruit fly, and be accompanied by a certificate stating that the lemons have been inspected and found to be free of quarantine pests. Comments are due July 11, 2016.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
