G/SPS/N/USA/3277  
 
23 September 2021  
(21-7112) Page: 1/2 
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 fig fruit ( Ficus carica L.) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Mexico  
5. Title of the notified document:  APHIS Amends Import Requirements for Fresh Fig Fruit 
from Mexico in Federal Emergency Order . Language(s): English . Number of pages: 3 
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/federal -
import -orders  
6. Description of content:  APHIS has de termined that the introduction and establishment 
of BFF poses a serious threat to US agriculture including fresh fig fruits grown in the United 
States. APHIS has determined that additional import requirements for fresh fig fruit from 
Mexico are necessary t o prevent the introduction and establishment of BFF in the 
United  States. These restrictions are immediately needed and warranted to address plant 
pest risks associated with the importation of fresh figs from Mexico. Effective 24 August 
2021, this federal order revises import requirements for fresh fig fruit ( Ficus carica L.) 
imported from Mexico to prevent the introduction of black fig fly (BFF) ( Silba adipata 
McAlpine) by imposing treatment requirements on all fresh figs from Mexico. To prevent 
the introd uction of BFF into the United States via fresh fig fruit: Only commercial 
consignments of fresh fig fruit may be imported from Mexico; also, consignments of fresh 
fig fruit from Mexico will require mandatory irradiation treatment at 400 Gy, in accordance 
with Title 7 US Code of Federal Regulations Part 305; also irradiation treatment can occur 
in Mexico under an APHIS preclearance program, or upon -arrival in the United States at an 
APHIS -approved irradiation facility under a compliance agreement. All other shipments of 
fresh fig fruit from Mexico, including passenger baggage, conveyances, express couriers, 
or any other means are prohibited.  
In March 2020, the Mexican government notified APHIS of BFF detections in the state of 
Morelos. On 30 July 2021, Mexico  notified APHIS that BFF had been found in the states of 
Baja California Sur, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, and Puebla, Mexico. Mexico also 
notified APHIS that BFF was not under official control. BFF is a lance fly species 
(Lonchaeidae) which attac ks only figs but is considered one of the most important and 
destructive pests of figs. BFF is distributed throughout the Mediterranean region and the 
Middle East and has been introduced to South Africa. BFF has limited distribution in the 
United States. A PHIS has determined that this species would be able to establish in fig 
growing areas of the United States.  G/SPS/N/USA/3277  
 
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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:  Prior to the effective 
date of this order, commercial shipments of fresh fig fruit from Mexico were enterable into 
the continental United St ates with irradiation at 400 Gy if produced in a BFF infested area 
(Morelos), 150 Gy for fruit produced in a Tephritidae fruit fly infested area where BFF is 
not present, or with a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration that they 
were pro duced in a pest free area for fruit flies. The new fresh fig fruit requirements  as of 
this order's  effective date  are needed to  prevent  BFF introduction  into the United States 
via fresh fig fruit . 
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 Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Anima l 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:  
This Federal Order is issued in accordance with regulatory authority under 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 movement in interstate 
commerce of any plant, plant part, or article if the Secretary determines the prohibition or 
restriction is necessary to prevent the di ssemination 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 regulat ions 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 entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
24 August 2021 /To be determined.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
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:   
For additional information regarding this Federal Order, contact Senior Regulatory Policy 
Specialist Marc Phillips at +(301) 851 2114 or Marc.Phillips@usda.gov  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax numb er and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/import -information/federal -
import -orders