APHIS Proposes to Allow Imports of Lemons from Chile, Loosen Restrictions for Cherimoya

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow imports of lemons from Chile into the continental U.S. (here), as well as imports of cherimoya fruit from Chile into the entire U.S. without the currently required soapy water and wax treatment (here). Chilean lemons would have to be grown at a registered farm and found free of the pest Brevipalpus chilensis in order to be eligible for importation. Cherimoya would be required to be produced under a systems approach with requirements for production site registration, low pest prevalence area certification, post-harvest processing, and fruit cutting and inspection at the packinghouse. Comments on both proposed rules are due June 3.