**United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service**  **Plant Protection and Quarantine**



# Importation of **Fresh Tomato**  **( Solanum**  **lycopersicum L.)**  **Fruit with Stems from the**  **Republic of Korea into the United States**  **Risk Management Document**

**July 28, 2010**

**Plant Health Programs (PHP) Regulations, Per**  **mits and Manuals (RPM) Contact Person:**  **Philip B. Grove**Risk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
. S
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December 9, 2009 2 

## Contents: 1. Introduction ...................................................... ..................... 3 2. Quarantine Pests of C oncern for T omatoes from Korea
......... .... ......... . 3 3
. Risk M anagement M easures .............................. ... ........................ 4 4
. Rational e for Ri sk M anagement M easures ..................... .. ............... . 6 5. Summary. . .............................................................................. 7 6
. References ...........................................................................
... 8Risk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
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December 9, 2009 3 

## 1. Introduction This document describes the risk management measures for the importation of fre sh tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. , S ynon ym : Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit with parts of stem from the Republic of Korea into the United States. The volume of tomatoes to be shipped from the Republic of Korea to the United States is estimated at on e 20’x40’ maritime container per year. (USDA, 200 7 ) United States Code of Federal Regulations ( 7 CFR 319.56 ) authorize importation of fruits and vegetables from foreign countries into the United States. Currently , tomatoes from the Republic of Korea are not authorized by these regulations
. The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA, APHI S) conducted a pest risk assessment in response to a request by the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Agriculture and Fore stry , National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) for authorization to export fresh tomatoes with stems to the United States (USDA, 200 7 ). Eight pests of quarantine significance were identified, which could reasonably

be expected to follow the pathway on tom atoes imported into the United States from the Republic of Korea. This document evaluates the appropriate pest risk management measures for these quarantine pests. 

## 2. **Quarantine Pests of Concern for Tomatoes from Korea** The list of quarantine pests of tomato from Korea was prepared based on: (1) Documents submitted by the Republic of Korea, (2) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) records of intercepted pests, and (3) Scientific literature. The ris k assessment, Importation of Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems (Solanum lycopersicum L.) (Synonym: Lycopersicon esculentum P. Mill.) from the Republic of Korea into the United States, A Pathway
-Initiated Assessment (USDA, 2006), represents a baseline risk asso ciated with the unmitigated importation of fresh tomato with stems from Korea. The Pest Risk Assessment (USDA, 200 7 ) identified the following **eight** pests as having a potential to follow the pathway :Risk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
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December 9, 2009 4 Pests with **high** pest risk potential: Bactrocera depress a (Shiraki) (Diptera: Tephritidae) Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Helicoverpa assulta (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Mamestra brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Py ralidae) P ests with **medium** pest risk potential: Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Thrips palmi Karny

(Th ysanoptera: Thripidae) Pests with **low** pest risk potential: Ralstonia solanacearum race 3, biovar 2 (Smith) Yabuuchi ( Burkholderiales: Rals toniaceae) 

## 3. **Risk Management Measures**  APHI S propose s that tomatoes with stems from Korea may be imported into the United States only

under the following conditions: (A) The tomatoes must be grown in Korea in pest exclusionary structures (PES) , for e xample , greenhouses or screenhouses , that are registered and approved b y APHI S and the Korean National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) ( also referred to as the Korean National Plant Protection Organization , or Korean NPPO)
. (B) The PES must be equipped w ith double self
- closing doors, and any

vents or openings in the PES (other than the double closing doors) must be covered with 1. 6 mm or less screening in order to prevent the entry of quarantine pest s into the PES
. (C) The registered PES must be inspect ed monthly throughout the growing season by NPQS to ensure that the screens are intact, and to ensure phy tosanitary and trapping procedures are emplo yed to exclude plant pests and disease s. (D) Trap s containing appropriate lures must be used inside and outside of the PES to detect Bactrocera depressa
. (1) Inside a registered PES : McPhail traps with approved protein bait must be placed within registered PES at a density of at least two traps per PES
. Trapping must begin at l east two months prior to the start of the export season and continue until the end of harvest. The traps must be serviced once per week.Risk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
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December 9, 2009 5 Capture of a single B. depressa will result in the immediate cancellation of exports from that PES until the source o f the infestation is determined, the infestation has been eradicated, and measures are taken to preclude any future infestation. (2) Outside a registered PES : McPhail traps with approved protein bait must also be placed in a buffer area , which is 500 meters wide around the registered production site, at a density of one trap per 10 h ectares. During the months of March through November at least one trap needs to be in the buffer area near each PES . T rapping must begin at least two months prior to the s tart of export and continue until the end of harvest
. The traps must be serviced once per week. Capture of three B. depressa within two kilometers of each other and within 30 day s will result in the delay or suspension of exports from all registered PES w ithin two kilometers of the finds until APHI S and NP QS are satisfied of the remedial actions taken to mitigate the pest risks. (E) The manager of the PES must maintain records of trap placement, trap servicing, and fruit fl y captures for at least one ye ar , and must report on the trapping pro gram and provide copies of the records to NPQS each month. NPQS must make the records available to APHIS upon request. ( F ) After harvest, t omatoes must be safeguarded by an insect
- proof mesh , screen , or plas tic tarpaulin while in transit from the production site to the packing house and while awaiting packing. (G) T omatoes must be packed within 24 hours of harvest in a pest exclusionary pa cking house. (H) When the packing house is packing tomatoe s for export to the United States, it must accept tomatoes only from registered PES
. (I) T omatoes must be packed in insect
- proof cartons or containers, or covered with insect
- proof mesh or plastic tarpaulin, for transit to the United States. These safeguards must remain intact until the arrival of the tomatoes in the United States, otherwise the consignment may be refused entry to the United States
. (J) A random sample of fruit per lot , as determined b y NPQS, must be inspecte d for external pests and the fruit must be cut to reveal internal pests; each sample should be of a sufficient size in order to detect pest infestations. During the grading process, an y damaged, diseased, or infested fruit should be removed and separated from the commodity de stined for export.Risk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
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December 9, 2009 6 ( K) Each consignment of tomatoes must be accompanied by a P hy tosanitary C ertificate (PC) of inspection issued by NPQS bearing the following A dditional D eclaration (AD) : “ Tomatoes in this consignment w ere grown in p est exclusionary

s tructures in accordance with 7 CFR 319.56
- and were inspected and found free from Bactrocera depressa , Helicoverpa armigera , Helicoverpa assulta , Mamestra brassicae , Ostrinia furnacalis, Scirtothrips dorsalis, and Thrips palmi ( L ) Tomatoes must be imported as commercial consignments only
. 

## 4 **. Rationale for Risk Managem**  **ent Measures** The mitigation measures described in this document are necessary to achieve phy tosanitary security for Korean tomatoes and are consistent with those f or Korean peppers currentl y allowed entry into the United States under 7 CFR §319.56
- 4 2. Bactrocera depressa , the pumpkin fruit fly , is found in Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan (Carroll et al. 2002). This fruit fly is a major threat to agricultural res ources especiall y to curcurbitaceous and solanaceous plants (Mun et al. 2003; Kwon 1985). The adults of this fruit fly have a wingspan of 8
- 9.5 mm (Kwon 1985). The screen size of 1.6 mm surrounding the PES is sufficient for the exclusion of fruit flies , i ncluding Bactrocera depressa , and medium to large Lepidoptera species , including Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa assulta, Mamestra brassicae, and Ostrinia furnacalis, whose wingspan exceeds 3.5 mm ( CABI 2006). Using a screen size of 0.6 mm excludes most pests though some of the smallest pests may not be excluded. However, smaller screen sizes create additional problems in PES, such as increased heat and fungal problems as a result of reduced air flow (Ghidiu and Roberts, 2002; Ferguson and Murphy, 2000).
. Use of pest exclusionary

structures equipped with double self
- closing doors, and covering of vents or openings in the PES (other than the double closing doors) with 1.6 mm or less screening in order to prevent the entry of quarantine pests is consistent with the requirements for importation of tomatoes from other countries under 7 CFR §319.56
- 28. McPhail traps with approved protein bait must be used t o monitor for B
. depress a (pumpkin fruit fly)
. This is also consistent with the current regulation for wat ermelon, squash, cucumber and oriental melon from Korea (7 CFR§319.56
- 36 ) which also lists B. depressa as a major pest. Unlike other species of Bactrocera , B. depressa is not known to respond to methyl
- eugenol or cuelure (USDA 200 7 ). Protein baits and spi roketal may be used as attractants (USDA 200 7 ). Both Scirtothrips dorsalis and Thrips palmi have been reported as pests of concern for tomato with the insect damage mainly confined to the plant parts other than fruits
. S
. dorsalis has been reported to be a major pest on tomato plants in India (CABI 2006). On chili peppers ( Capsicum frutescens ), S. dorsalis may occur in such large numbers that yo ung leaves shrivel and curl (‘leaf curl disease’ ) with leaves and buds eventually abscising (CABI 2006). Fee ding results in tissue browning and continuous lines orRisk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
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December 9, 2009 7 scratch marks in the epidermis of leaves (CABI 2006). T
. palmi is a poly

phagous pest, especiall y of Cucur

bitaceae and Solanaceae, and is considered a serious pest of vegetables in western Japan (CABI 2006). T. palmi prefers to feed on plant leaves with less than one percent of thrips attacking flowers and fruits (CABI 2006). Heavil y infested plants are characterized by a silvered or bronzed appearance of the leaves, stunted leaves and terminal shoots , and fruit is scarred and deformed (CABI 2006). A search of records on tomato imports since 2001 revealed no record of interception of either T
. palmi or S

. dorsalis (US Pest ID 2007) thereb y suggesting t omato fruits to be a poor host for these two pests. Since these medium risk pests (Scirtoth rips dorsalis and Thrips palmi ) are external feeders and adults can be detected during port - of
- entry inspection (USDA, 2006) , the appropriate level of ph yt osanitary security will be attained by

requiring a P hy

tosan i tary C ertificate issued b y the NPPO with an Additional Declaration stating that the fruit has bee n inspected and found free of the listed quarantine pests. Requiring an Additional Declaration (AD) specifically listing the pests of concern identified in the pest risk assessment (USDA 200 7 ) effectivel y requires the Korean NPPO to inspect the tomatoes for these pests. Furthermore, the AD raises the awareness of U.S. inspectors to the pests of concern with this commodity
. 

## 5 **. Summ**  **ary** The mitigations detailed above emphasize the use of pest exclusionary structures and pest - free commodities . There are several mitigations aimed at ensuring that the pest
- free status is maintained throughout the production process and along the transportation pathway . A series o f inspections also are incorporated to assure quality control and phy tosanitary rigor. Based on their respective biological characteristic s , methods of dispersal, ability to be detected, and evaluation of effectiveness of the phy tosanitary measures directe d against them, APHI S finds that the safeguards of 7 CFR § 319.56 and the mitigations described here will result in the effective removal of the pests of concern identified by the risk assessment for the importation of fresh tomato fruits from Korea (USDA 200 7 ). 

## Author Julie F. Orr, Plant Health Safeguard Specialist, USDA, APHIS, PPQ 

## Reviewers Devaiah A. Muruvanda, Ph.D., Senior Risk Manager, USDA, APHIS, PPQ, Commodity Import Anal ys is and OperationsRisk Management Document: Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems from Korea into the U
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December 9, 2009 8 Alex Belano , Import Specialist, USDA, APHI S, PPQ, Commodity Import Analy sis and Operations. Inder P.S. Gadh, Ph.D., Senior Risk Manager, USDA, APHI S, PPQ, Commodity Import Analy sis and Operations José R. Hernández Ph.D. Risk Manager, USDA, APHI S, PPQ, Commodity Import Analy sis and Operations Walter Gould , Ph .D., Senior Risk Manager, USDA, APHI S, PPQ, Commodity Import Analy sis and Operations Shaharra J. Usnick, Ph.D., Senior Risk Manager, USDA, APHI S, PPQ, Commodity Import Anal ys is and Operations 

## 6. **References** CABI. 2006
. Crop Protection Compendium, 2006 E dition. CAB International, Wallingford, UK. Carrol, L.E.; White, I . M.: Friedberg, A.;Norrbom, A. L .; Dallwitz, M.J.; Thompson, F.C.,2002: Pest Fruit Flies of the World: Descriptions, I llustrations, Id entification, and Information Retrieval, 8 th version , http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/Diptera/tephiti/pests/adult
. Ferguson, G. and Murphy, G. 2000. Screening of Greenhouses for Insect Exclusion. Factsheet 00
- 021. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Government of Ontario, Canada. www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/crops/facts/00
- 021.htm. Last accessed August 21 , 2005. Ghidiu, G.M. an d Roberts, W.J. 2002. Greenhouse Screening for Insect Control, Factsheet FS640. The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers Cooperative Extension. K won, Y. J. 1985. Classification of the fruitfly
- pests from Korea. Insecta Koreana (Series 5), 1985, 49
- 112. Mun, Jeomhee, Andrew J. Bohonak and George K. Roderick. 2003. Population Structure of the pumpkin fruit fly Bactrocera depressa (Tephritidae) in Korea and Japan: Pliocene allopatry

or recent invasion? Molecular Ecology . 12. 2941
- 2951 USDA
. 200 7 . Imp ortation of Fresh Tomato Fruit with Stems (Solanum lycopersicum L.) (Sy nony m: Lycomperison esculentum P. Mill.) from the Republic of Korea into the United States

– A Pathway
- Initiated Risk Assessment. October 200 7
. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology , Plant Epidemiology

and Risk Analy sis Laboratory . Raleigh, NC. 93 pp. US. Pest ID Database, 2007: United States Department of Agri culture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Riverdale, MD.