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USDA ISSUES FINAL RULE TO AMEND MEXICAN FRUIT FLY REGULATIONS

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2005—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced that it is amending the Mexican fruit fly regulations by requiring that regulated articles, originating within a Mexican fruit fly quarantine area, be accompanied by a certificate or limited permit during interstate movement to all states.

Under the final rule, APHIS inspectors will issue certificates for the movement of regulated articles if they determine that certain specified conditions have been met. A limited permit may be issued for interstate movement of a regulated article in lieu of a certificate when, among other things, the inspector determines that the regulated article is to be moved to a specific destination for specified handling, utilization, processing, or treatment that will destroy the life stages of the pest.

These actions are necessary to prevent the interstate spread of Mexican fruit fly and would make APHIS’ Mexican fruit fly regulations more consistent with other domestic fruit fly regulations. The Mexican fruit fly is a destructive pest of citrus and many other types of fruit. The short life cycle of the Mexican fruit fly allows rapid development of serious outbreaks that can cause severe economic losses in commercial producing areas.

The final rule was published in the June 29 Federal Register and becomes effective July 29. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad//webrepor.html.

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