The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Customs Border Protection (CBP) are taking action on the importation of bananas, plantains, pears, and avocados in accordance with pest mitigation regulations.
If you’re an importer of any of these fruit products, read on to learn if the recent actions will affect you.
Bananas and plantains
A risk-based sampling of banana and plantain shipments at U.S. ports of entry has started as of Sept. 26, 2022. The goal of the sampling is to reduce inspections on entities importing commodities compliant with current pest and disease regulations.
There are no changes to the required entry paperwork; however, PPQ and CBP recommend that trade entities file entry paperwork prior to arrival if possible and include APHIS Core Message Set data to ensure their shipments are processed according to risk-based sampling procedures.
Pears
APHIS has revised its requirements for importing fresh sand pear from the Republic of Korea. APHIS previously published the pest risk analysis that describes potential pests associated with the commodity for public review and comment.
APHIS has determined that the application of designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of plant pests or noxious weeds for the importation of fresh, non-precleared sand pear fruit from the Republic of Korea into all ports of the United States as an alternative to the preclearance program. This change is effective as of September 27, 2022.
Avocados
APHIS is asking for public comment as it considers a request to authorize the importation of fresh Hass avocados from Guatemala for consumption. APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment which lists the potential pests that are likely to remain on the product after importation if no mitigation is applied. The draft will be available to review and comment on until Oct. 19, 2022, after which APHIS will proceed with the commodity import approval process.
To review the assessment or submit comments, view the Avocados from Guatemala Risk Assessment Document.
To stay informed on import regulations and other important updates, stay connected with a customs broker.
