Spanish

Clementines

Q. Will the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

allow clementines from Spain into the United

States?

A. Under a new final rule issued October 15, 2002,

clementines from Spain will be allowed into the

United States provided certain requirements are met.

Q. What are the requirements to import 

clementines from Spain?

A. The requirements for importing clementines from

Spain involve a new inspection regimen that includes

preclearing the fruit as well as sampling prior to, and

after, the required cold treatment aboard ship. Also,

farmers in Spain must grow clementines in 

accordance with a Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly)

management program established by their 

government.

Q. What is cold treatment?

A. Cold treatment means that the temperature of the

fruit is lowered significantly for a period of time to

eliminate any fruit flies that may be in the fruit.

Q. Will the cold treatment requirements be 

sufficient to eliminate Medflies?

A. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service (APHIS) has updated the cold treatment

requirements for clementines from Spain to ensure

that Medflies will not be able to survive the treatment.

In most cases, the time requirements for cold 

treatment have been extended by 2 days.

Q. Can clementines from Spain be imported into

citrus-producing States?

A. No. Clementines from Spain cannot be imported

into, or distributed to, Arizona, California, Florida,

Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, or any other U.S.

territory during the first shipping season. APHIS is

requiring that all clementine shipments from Spain

bear labels stating that the above States and 

territories cannot receive the fruit.

Q. If clementines from Spain pose no threat to

agriculture, why are certain States excluded?

A. Clementines from Spain are being allowed into

the United States under certain conditions. As long

as those conditions are met, APHIS sees no 

significant pest risk. The citrus-producing States and

territories are excluded during the first shipping 

season only to ensure the success of APHIS’ new

requirements.

Q. Why is APHIS lifting the ban on clementines

from Spain?

A. This action is being taken in response to a

request from the government of Spain after a 

thorough examination of the issue by APHIS and the

creation of new requirements. APHIS is confident

that, under the new requirements, the imported

clementines from Spain pose no significant threat to

American agriculture.

Q. Why did APHIS ban clementines from Spain in

the first place?

A. Clementines from Spain were banned December

5, 2001, after several live Medflies in their larval

stage were intercepted in Spanish clementine

imports.

Factsheet

Plant Protection and Quarantine October 2002

APHIS

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in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to

all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative

means for communication of program information (Braille, large

print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at

(202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of

Civil Rights, Room 326–W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964

(voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and

employer.

United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • Safeguarding American Agriculture