Deadline Extended: APHIS Publishes Pest Risk Assessment for Importation of Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin and Sweet Orange from Botswana into the United States

WASHINGTON, October 3, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has drafted a pest risk assessment (PRA) that describes potential pests associated with importing fresh commercially produced citrus fruits from Botswana into the United States. The PRA evaluates pest risk presented by lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, and sweet orange (Citrus limon, C. paradisi, C. reticulata, and C. sinensis) from Botswana for consumption. 

APHIS invites stakeholders, industry, partners and the public to share concerns and information with APHIS related to the import of the four citrus fruits from Botswana.  Comments will be considered for scientific and technical issues raised and may result in changes to the risk assessment.  The 30-day stakeholder risk assessment consultation period provides an early opportunity for the public to engage with APHIS regarding this request. Read the Pest Risk Assessment at Stakeholder Risk Assessment Consultation | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (usda.gov).

To submit a comment on this, or any APHIS PRA, please visit PPQPRAComments@usda.gov. Commenters should include the name of the commodity assessed, (in this case: Lemon, Grapefruit, Mandarin and Sweet Orange from Botswana) in the Subject line of the emailed comment. 

APHIS has extended the comment period for this pest risk assessment, which will be open until January 3, 2025.