US: Peruvian citrus and Argentinean blueberries and topfruit allowed

Starting January 1, 2015, APHIS has announced that citrus from Peru and blueberries, apples and pears from Argentina will be allowed entry into ports in south Florida under the cold treatment pilot project.

This is a cooperative effort between APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) in cooperation with Customs and Border Protection and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

These commodities are in addition to the previously approved grapes and blueberries from Peru and Uruguay. APHIS is currently accepting applications for these commodities.

Containers that do not pass cold treatment requirements will be prohibited from entering the port and will not be offloaded from vessels.

This does not affect existing preclearance programs for grapes and blueberries from Peru.

For more information:
Permit Services
APHIS
Tel: +1 301-851-2046
or +1 877-770-5990
Fax: +1 301-734-4300
E-mail: Permits@aphis.usda.gov
www.aphis.usda.gov/permits/ppq_epermits.shtml
or
Calvin Shuler
APHIS PPQ Field Operations
Tel: +1 919-855-7326
E-mail: Calvin.Shuler@aphis.usda.gov