Melissa O’Dell (301) 734-5222
Jerry Redding (202) 720-4623
USDA REMOVES VAPOR HEAT AS AN APPROVED TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN COMMODITIES MOVING INTERSTATE FROM HAWAII
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2007--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced it has removed vapor heat as an approved pest prevention treatment for bell peppers, eggplants, Italian squash and tomatoes moving interstate from Hawaii.
This action is necessary because these commodities can serve as hosts for the solanum fruit fly, which was recently detected in Hawaii. Vapor heat is not an approved treatment for this specific pest.
As an alternative, APHIS is allowing the use of irradiation as an approved treatment for all peppers and squash moving interstate from Hawaii. This action will relieve unnecessary restrictions on the interstate movement of these commodities and allow a greater variety of peppers (Capsicum spp.) and squash (Curcurbita spp.) to be moved interstate from Hawaii while continuing to protect the U.S. mainland against quarantine pests and diseases. Irradiation is already an approved treatment for eggplants and tomatoes moving interstate from Hawaii. Fumigation with methyl bromide is another approved treatment for moving tomatoes interstate.
If introduced into the United States, the solanum fruit fly has the potential to have a substantial economic impact on many fruit and vegetable crops.
Notice of this final rule is scheduled for publication in the Feb. 23 Federal Register and will become effective March 26.
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