G/SPS/N/USA/3275  
 
23 September 2021  
(21-7109) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Fresh citrus species:  
− Grapefruit, Citrus x paradisi MacFad.;  
− Lemons, Citrus x meyeri Yu. Tanaka and Citrus x limon (L.) Burm. f.;  
− Lime, Citrus aurantiifolia , Citrus latfolia ; 
− Mandarins, clementines and tangerines, including satsumas, and other fruits grown 
from this species or its hybrids, Citrus reticulata Blanco;  
− Oranges, Citrus x sinensis (L.) Osbeck;  
− Tangelo, Citrus paradisi x C. reticulata , Citrus x tangelo Ingram & Moore;  
− Tangor, Citrus x nobilis Lou. 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Australia, Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia  
5. Title of the notified document:  USDA APHIS Amends Import Requirements for Citrus 
from Australia in Federal Order . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 4 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/federal -
import -orders  
6. Description of content:  Effective 20  August 2021, the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) is revising the entry requirements for citrus fruit from the 
Districts of Riverina and Sunraysia in Australia. This revision is necessary because both 
Riverina and Sunraysia no longer mee t the requirements to be considered fruit fly free 
areas for Queensland fruit fly ( Bactrocera tryoni or QFF). This action applies to the 
importation of the fresh citrus species named in this Federal order, when produced in 
either district, as published on the USDA APHIS website on 20 August 2021 
(https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/federal -
import -orders ). 
APHIS is now requiring in transit cold treatment for the aforementioned citrus varieties 
when originating in regulated areas for QFF, including the Districts of Riverina and 
Sunraysia. APHIS will require treatment of citrus prior to entering the United States. 
All fresh citrus consignments must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by 
the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Australia with the additional 
declaration stating the citrus fruit was produced in Riverina, Riverland, Sunraysia ; the 
inland region of Queensland, the regions comprising Western Australia, or the shires of 
Bourke or Narromine within New South Wales District.  G/SPS/N/USA/3275  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale: [  ] food safety, [  ] animal health, [X]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.  
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  APHIS is taking this 
action in response to detections of Queensland fruit fly in the Districts of Riverina and 
Sunraysia in Australia. Under this Federal Order, fresh citrus  fruit from areas where 
Queensland fruit fly is present must be treated in accorda nce to 7  CFR 305, which is an 
APHIS approved treatment schedules for Queensland fruit fly.  
Queensland fruit fly is a tropical fruit -fly species found in Eastern Australia. 
APHIS  estimates that the species would be able to establish populations in southern 
regions of the United States (Plant Hardiness Zones 9 -11) where hosts are present. 
Queensland fruit fly has been recorded infesting many important economic species 
including mangos and most commercial citrus species. Queensland fruit fly attacks at least 
240 plant species in at least 36 families.  
9. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
[ ] World Organization for Animal H ealth (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[X] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
10. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Australia  notified APHIS that the Riverina and Sunraysia Districts are no longer pest fre e 
areas for QFF. In response to this letter, APHIS is requiring that citrus fruit from Riverina 
and Sunraysia Districts be treated with cold treatment as per 7 CFR 305 for export to the 
United States. This Federal Order is issued in accordance with the reg ulatory authority 
provided by the Plant Protection Act of 20 June 2000, as amended, Section 412(a), 
7 U.S.C. 7712(a). The Act authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict the 
movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant part, or article if the Secretary 
determines the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the dissemination of a 
plant pest within the United States. The regulatory authority provided by 7 U.S.C. 7754 
allows the Secretary to issue orders to carry out this  provision of the Plant Protection Act. 
This Federal Order is also issued pursuant to the regulations promulgated under the Plant 
Protection Act and found in the US Code of Federal Regulations at Title 7 CFR Part 319  
(available in English) . 
11. Date of en try into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
20 August 2021 /To be determined: Federal Orders remain in effect until they are revised 
by another Federal Order or until a regulatory action (rule or notice) on the subject is 
published. Und er the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), "rulemaking" requires 
publication of proposed and final rules. The "Notice" process is exempted from the APA. 
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of PPQ Federal Orders. PPQ's Emergency and 
Domestic Pro grams also issues Federal Orders to prohibit or restrict interstate movement. 
Federal Orders for emergency and domestic programs are posted on the APHIS site under 
the specific plant pest or disease program to which the Federal Order pertains. You can 
find a list of those programs at the Plant Pest Program Information homepage.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   G/SPS/N/USA/3275  
 
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  12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Senior Regulatory Policy Specialist Tony Román at +(301) 851 2242 or e -mail at 
Juan.A.Roman@usda.gov  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/fed eral-
import -orders