The US is planning to amend current fruit and vegetable regulations and allow imports of Chinese sand pears from approved fruit-fly-free areas in China into the US, USDA Aphis announced today (December 16).
The US Department of Agriculture quarantine department Aphis has prepared a pest risk assessment (PRA) and invited the public to comment on its proposal by February 14, 2012.
The PRA has identified 16 pests of quarantine significance present in China that could be introduced into the US through Chinese sand pear imports, but recommends several measures beyond port-of-entry inspection be imposed to mitigate the risks posed by these plant pests.
