USDA Publishes Final Rule to Allow the Importation of Fresh Cherimoya Fruit from Chile

Washington, D.C., March 28, 2018 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is updating its regulations to allow imports of fresh cherimoya fruit from Chile into the continental United States under a systems approach.

Commercial shipments of fresh cherimoya fruit from Chile are currently imported into all U.S. ports after a soapy water and wax treatment to prevent the false red mite from entering the country. At the request of Chilean officials, APHIS scientists evaluated whether fresh cherimoya fruit could be safely imported using a systems approach, and provided opportunity for public comment.

After analyzing the plant pest risks, APHIS determined that the fruit could safely enter the continental United States under a systems approach, which is series of measures taken by growers, packers, and shippers that minimize the risk of importing plant pests. The systems approach requires:

• Locations where the fruit is grown must be registered with Chilean plant health officials,
• Production locations must be marked on all fruit cartons so harvested fruit can be traced back to that location,
• Shipments must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate stating the fruit was produced according to import requirements, and
• Fruit must be inspected after it is harvested and processed for shipping.

Shipments that do not pass initial inspection may still be imported if the fruit is treated with soapy water and wax and completes additional inspection in Chile.

APHIS experts have determined that these measures will protect the United States from the false red mite.  The final rule will become effective on April 30, 2018, 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.