USDA EXPANDS LIST OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES ELIGIBLE FOR IMPORTATION

USDA EXPANDS LIST OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES ELIGIBLE FOR IMPORTATION    The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expanding the list of fruits and vegetables eligible, under specified conditions, for import into the United States.
   The USDA has also declared that the Department of Peten, Guatemala, and all districts in Belize are    free of the Mediterranean fruit fly.
   The final rule amends the import requirements for: peppers from New Zealand; apples, apricots, carambola, grapefruits, mangoes, oranges, peaches, persimmons, pomegranates, tangerines from areas free of fruit fly in Mexico; artichoke, kiwi, oregano and marjoram from Argentina; cole and mustard crops from Costa Rica and Honduras; marjoram from Peru; eggplant, lettuce, watermelon and kiwi from Spain; passion fruit from Chile; kiwi and papaya from Belize; papaya from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; and ya pears from China.
   For more information, contact Donna L. West, import specialist, phytosanitary issues management team, APHIS, at (301) 734-6799.