The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) amended Federal Order (DA-2022-42) issued on December 29, 2022, effective immediately. This federal order prohibits the importation of fresh peppers (Capsicum annuum) from Spain into the United States. Introduction to the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly).
The following amended Federal Decree (DA-2024-01) will require imports from Spain based on the import requirements currently listed in the Agricultural Products Import Requirements (ACIR) database and the corrective measures listed in the amended Federal Decree below. The import of green peppers will be allowed to resume.
This first action occurred in December 2022 when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport detected five live midge fly larvae in a commercial consignment of fresh peppers from Spain. This was taken after one pupa was captured, and precautionary measures were necessary. Medfly’s entry into the United States.
Spain’s National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) tracked the interceptions at 11 greenhouses in the Almería region. NPPO found minor structural damage and minor tears in the plastic covers of seven greenhouses. These greenhouses had passed public inspection in August 2022.
The NPPO reported that storms and strong winds occurred in the Almería region during that time and concluded that these weather events were responsible for the structural damage and subsequent invasion of the greenhouse by the medfly. NPPO immediately suspended all 11 violating greenhouses from the pepper export program. An internal investigation of the registered packaging company associated with the 11 nonconforming greenhouses found no nonconformance issues. Therefore, to prevent future recurrence of infestations, NPPO has developed remedial measures aimed at strengthening the physical integrity of greenhouses and minimizing the risk of greenhouses being compromised by severe weather events.
Overall, APHIS has determined that the phytosanitary import requirements for fresh peppers from Spain outlined in this Federal Order adequately reduce the risk of medfly introduction through this commercial route.
Accordingly, APHIS is amending the Federal Order prohibiting the importation of green peppers from Spain into the United States, effective immediately, for the importation of fresh green peppers from Spain under the import requirements currently listed in the Agricultural Products Import Requirements (ACIR). Imports may resume. Database and additional requirements listed in DA-2024-01.
For more information: aphis.usda.gov