APHIS Modifies European Cherry Fruit Fly Quarantine Areas

Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is modifying conditions for the movement of regulated articles from areas quarantined for European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) as described in Federal Order DA-2020-10. The conditions include a new systems approach to allow the movement of commercially produced cherry fruit outside of the quarantined area without methyl bromide fumigation. The new systems approach focuses on the extensive use of float tests of cherries as a more direct method to assess the risk of human-assisted movement of ECFF to locations outside of the quarantine area. The new systems approach also provides clearer protocols for the application of approved disposal/destruction methods for culled fruit and fruit waste outside of quarantine areas. The host list remains unchanged.

APHIS will regulate the movement of ECFF host articles from all ECFF quarantined areas in the United States in accordance with the regulations in 7 C.F.R. § 301.32 and any applicable provisions of this Federal Order. APHIS has posted the current ECFF quarantine areas, the ECFF host list, and this Federal Order at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff.

For additional information about the ECFF program, you may contact the Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at (301) 851-2109 or richard.n.johnson@usda.gov.