The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce that it has amended its regulations on fruits and vegetables and announced today that it will allow the importation of blackberries (Rubus glaucus Benth) and raspberries (Rubus idaeus Linnaeus) from Ecuador to United States mainland starting May 9.
A careful analysis of the pest risk led APHIS to decide that commercial shipments of these fruits are permissible if the fruits have been produced under pest mitigation systems, if they are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Ecuador, and if they are subject to further inspection at the port of entry into the United States.
The pest mitigation systems include measures to ensure the protection of U.S. agriculture and U.S. natural resources from pest invasion.
The regulation goes into effect on May 9, 2016 and a copy can be obtained in the Federal Register. It is estimated that import earnings in the first year will reach one million dollars.
This decision was made in response to Ecuador’s request, and lies within one of the priorities set by the U.S. mission in Ecuador to support and expand trade between the two countries.
On May 9 APHIS will also allow for public comments on a proposed regulation that would allow the entry of dragon fruit from Ecuador to the United States. The comment period lasts 60 days, after which if no substantive comments have been made, or if all of the comment have been addressed, APHIS will prepare a final regulation for publication. The market value for dragon fruit from Ecuador is estimated at $ 15 million.
For more information visit http://1.usa.gov/1Mk1Nvr or http://1.usa.gov/1SEFE7L
