In the August 26, 2016, Federal Register, APHIS proposed to amend its regulations to allow the importation of fresh persimmons from New Zealand into the United States. As a condition of entry, the persimmons must produced in accordance with a systems approach that would include requirements for orchard certification, orchard pest control, post-harvest safeguards, fruit culling, traceback, sampling, and treatment with either hot water or modified atmosphere treatment. In addition, the 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 and were inspected and found to be free of quarantine pests in accordance with the proposed requirements. Comments are due October 25, 2016.
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