The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) recently revised sweet orange scab (SOS) requirements. APHIS revised the conditions for the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock (CNS) and updated the inspection requirements for CNS to be eligible for shipment. The federal order also updates the APHIS-Approved Packinghouse Procedures for Elsinoë australis, Causal Agent of Sweet Orange Scab (SOS) for the movement of regulated fruit.
Specifically, the order establishes the requirements that allow CNS grown and maintained outdoors or not grown and maintained in an APHIS-approved structure in SOS-quarantined areas to be moved through commercial citrus-producing areas not quarantined for SOS under a limited permit. These conditions allow movement to non-contiguous SOS-quarantined areas under a limited permit.
Previously, APHIS allowed CNS grown and maintained outdoors or not grown and maintained in an APHIS-approved structure in SOS-quarantined areas to be moved only to non-commercial citrus-producing areas with a limited permit and did not allow the movement of CNS to non-contiguous quarantine areas. To be eligible for such movement, a nursery must enter into a compliance agreement with APHIS that specifies the conditions for movement, including that material must be safeguarded during transit. This amendment expands market access for citrus nursery growers while sufficiently mitigating the risk of disseminating SOS to areas outside the quarantined area.
This order also modifies the requirements to ship CNS from an APHIS-approved structure in an SOS-quarantined area under a certificate to align with the CNS protocol found on the USDA APHIS citrus diseases webpage.
The order removes the requirement for a pre-shipment inspection, establishes the requirement for three consecutive monthly negative inspection cycles within a 90-day period, and clarifies the language related to monthly inspection cycles.
Additionally, to consolidate requirements for the movement of all regulated articles from SOS quarantine areas, the order adds a section that references the requirements for the movement of rutaceous leaves for consumption. The Protocol for the Interstate Movement of Fresh, Mature Rutaceous Leaves for Consumption can be found on the USDA APHIS citrus diseases webpage.
Finally, USDA APHIS is updating the APHIS-Approved Packinghouse Procedures for SOS for the movement of regulated fruit. After a review of the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite treatments, APHIS is modifying the required pH range for the sodium hypochlorite solution to 5.5 to 7.0 (previously 6.0 to 7.5) to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. This change aligns with the requirements listed in the APHIS Domestic Treatment Manual for citrus canker.
The order outlines the requirements for the interstate movement of CNS and citrus fruit from SOS-quarantined areas, and includes the amendments described. State, territory and tribal agricultural authorities may prescribe additional safeguards and protocols.
A description of all current SOS-quarantined areas, federal orders and other supporting regulatory documents may be found on the APHIS sweet orange scab webpage.
Source: APHIS
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