Fresh lemons from northwest Argentina received a conditional import route in an APHIS final rule published December 23, 2016. The destination is the continental United States, and the eligible origin is four provinces: Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán. The agency scheduled effectiveness for January 23, 2017. December 24 is this article’s retrospective coverage slot, not the announcement date. [2016-31013]

One condition offers two routes for addressing Mediterranean fruit fly risk. Lemons harvested green between April 1 and August 31 meet the harvest restriction. Those harvested yellow or outside that period must receive the prescribed treatment. This choice does not waive registration, commercial-consignment limits, inspections or the required phytosanitary certificate. It operates inside the wider systems approach. [2016-31013]

The May 10 proposal helps define that phrase. It described linked measures at production sites, packinghouses and export stages, rather than a single border test. Its operational workplan provision would require Argentina’s national plant protection organization to spell out activities and responsibilities, subject to APHIS approval. The final text likewise places the workplan within the entry conditions. [2016-10957][2016-31013]

Reading the two documents together clarifies what the decision establishes: a regulated pathway, with specified participants and safeguards. They are successive stages of one rulemaking, not independent proof of safe shipments or market effects. Permission under conditions and evidence that a particular consignment has met those conditions remain separate questions. [2016-31013][2016-10957]

Source documents

  1. Importation of Lemons From Northwest Argentinahttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-23/html/2016-31013.htm
  2. Importation of Lemons From Northwest Argentinahttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-05-10/html/2016-10957.htm