USDA photo
Citrus black spot (CBS) quarantines have been established for the first time in Florida’s DeSoto and Highlands counties. In addition, sections of other counties have been added to the existing CBS quarantine in Florida. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry (FDACS/DPI) announced the quarantine expansions on June 17.
APHIS is establishing a quarantined area of 17 sections in Desoto County and one section in Highlands County, two new counties identified to have CBS.
The agency is adding nine sections in Collier County, seven sections in Glades County and seven sections in Hendry County to the citrus black spot (CBS) quarantined area in Florida.
APHIS is taking this action because of confirmed detections of P. citricarpa, the causal agent of CBS, during annual surveys conducted by APHIS and FDACS DPI during the 2024–25 growing season. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement, or entry into foreign trade, of regulated articles from the quarantined area.
In 2010, CBS was first identified in Collier and Hendry counties in Florida. The disease is currently confined to portions of eight counties in Southwest Florida.
Fresh citrus fruit moved interstate from the CBS quarantined areas must be processed using APHIS-approved methods and packed in commercial citrus packinghouses operating under a compliance agreement with APHIS. Fresh, mature rutaceous leaves for consumption moved interstate from CBS quarantined areas must follow the conditions outlined in Federal Order DA-2022-07 and operate under a compliance agreement with APHIS. APHIS prohibits the movement of any other citrus plant parts outside the quarantined area.
The APHIS Citrus Black Spot web page has information on this disease, federal orders, APHIS-approved packinghouse procedures and a description of current quarantined areas.
Learn about management of CBS here.
Source: APHIS
Share this Post