Lots of communications about the newly proposed fresh citrus shipping rules from USDA kicked off the week. 
First, here are a couple of update reports on this issue featuring Richard Kinney of Florida Citrus Packers Association (photo left), who spoke to Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff in detail about the proposed rules.
Now, here below is a summary preview of the new proposed fresh citrus shipping rules that are expected to be officially published Tuesday June 30, 2009 in the Federal Register. Once published a 60-day public comment period will begin.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2009-0023]
Citrus Canker; Movement of Fruit From Quarantined Areas
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUMMARY: We are proposing to amend the citrus canker regulations to modify the conditions
under which fruit may be moved interstate from a quarantined area. Under this proposed rule,
we would eliminate the requirement that each lot of finished fruit be inspected at the
packinghouse and found to be free of visible symptoms of citrus canker, and we would remove
the current prohibition on the movement of fruit from a quarantined area to commercial citrusproducing
States. We would continue to require fruit moved interstate from a quarantined area
to be treated with an approved disinfectant and to be packed in a commercial packinghouse that
operates under a compliance agreement. These proposed changes would relieve some
restrictions on the interstate movement of fresh citrus fruit from quarantined areas while
maintaining conditions that would prevent the artificial spread of citrus canker.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before [Insert date 60 days after
date of publication in the Federal Register].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS
-2009-0023 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials
available electronically.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your comment to Docket
No. APHIS-2009-0023, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A-03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your
comment refers to Docket No. APHIS-2009-0023.
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