Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is modifying the conditions under which citrus fruit may be moved interstate from areas quarantined for sweet orange scab (SOS) when destined for processing or packing in a commercial citrus-producing state without a state-wide SOS quarantine.
In 2010, APHIS published Federal Order DA-2010-62 that established conditions for the movement of regulated articles from SOS quarantine areas. Under a limited permit, it allowed the movement of citrus fruit that is practically free of leaves, stems, or other regulated plant material from SOS quarantine areas for processing or packing in a commercial citrus-producing state without a state-wide SOS quarantine. These conditions are included in Federal Order DA-2021-35, which superseded DA-2010-62.
This modification allows for the interstate movement of citrus fruit with attached stems and leaves from SOS quarantined areas for processing or packing in a commercial citrus-producing state without a state-wide SOS quarantine. All other conditions for the movement of regulated articles from SOS quarantine areas are the same, including the requirement for producers/growers/packers to operate under a compliance agreement.
Spread of the fungal plant pathogen Elsinoë australis, the causal agent of SOS, is mitigated because vehicles transporting pallet boxes, field boxes, field bins, etc., must have the cargo area covered with a tarpaulin or otherwise covered in a manner that does not allow any openings greater than one-half inch.
APHIS is taking this action to prevent the spread of SOS to non-infested areas of the United States, while facilitating safe trade. This modification provides relief to citrus growers in SOS-regulated areas who are moving citrus fruit for processing or packing in a commercial citrus-producing state without a state-wide SOS quarantine. This Federal Order supersedes DA-2021-35, but does not supersede DA-2022-06, which describes the conditions for the movement of fruit from SOS and citrus canker quarantine areas.
The attached Federal Order outlines the requirement for the interstate movement of regulated articles from SOS quarantine areas and includes the amendments described.
For more information:
Shailaja Rabindran
APHIS
Tel.:+1 (301) 851-2167.