Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amends Federal Order DA-2017-15 to include the Province of Quebec, Canada and now prohibits entry of European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) host commodities from Ontario and Quebec, Canada into the United States. APHIS is taking this action in response to detections of ECFF in Quebec and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) expanding its regulatory area to include Quebec. APHIS has determined that Quebec, Canada is subject to the same prohibitions currently in place for Ontario, Canada.
To prevent the introduction of ECFF into the United States, APHIS prohibits entry of fresh fruit of the following host commodities from the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada: black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), and sweet cherry (P. avium). Wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits are also hosts and, therefore, prohibited. APHIS also requires that imports of the listed commodities from Canadian Provinces other than Ontario or Quebec must have their origin verified. Origin may be verified by shipping documents (such as bill of lading) or other proof of origin acceptable to APHIS.
Prior to 2017, fruit of ECFF host commodities were enterable into the United States from all Canadian Provinces with inspection at the port of entry. Due to detections of ECFF in 2017, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2017-15 prohibiting entry of fruit from ECFF host material from the Province of Ontario, Canada into the United States.
To ensure ECFF host fruits do not originate from Ontario or Quebec, APHIS requires all ECFF host commodity imports be accompanied by documentation verifying origin.
Photo: Dreamstime.
For more information:
Julie Orr
Regulatory Policy Specialist
Tel: (+1) 240-946-0542
julie.orr@usda.gov