The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will be issuing a second 60-day stay in the effective date of its final rule, published on December 23, 2016, to allow the importation of fresh lemon fruit from northwest Argentina into the continental United States.
No reason or explanation was given in the notification from USDA APHIS.
From a previous report on the proposed rule:
The 60-day hold on regulations, which includes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to allow Argentine lemons into the United States, went into effect January 20. California Citrus Mutual (CCM) widely opposes the decision to allow fruit to be imported from a region that California industry representatives say is pest- and disease-infested.
CCM President Joel Nelson said based solely on the stance the Trump campaign has showed on trade, the administration should also oppose the decision. “This rule flies in the face of the president’s campaign rhetoric, conversations and policies he’s implemented since he has been in office,” he said.