United States Department of Agriculture

Amend Hot-Water Immersion Treatment T102-a 

to Allow Importation of Over-Sized Mangoes

from Countries in South America and 

Harmonize Other Requirements

Treatment Evaluation Document

Agency Contact

Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Science and Technology

1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27606
2

Amend Hot-Water Immersion Treatment T102-a to Allow 

Importation of Over-Sized Mangoes from Countries in South 

America and Harmonize Other Requirements

Treatment Evaluation Document

Date: December 04, 2014

A. Treatment, Pests, Commodity and Countries Affected

New Treatment/ 

Revision/Deletion 

Treatment 

Type

Target Pests Commodity 

Applicable

Countries 

Affected

Revision of 

treatment T102-a 

Hot-water 

immersion 

treatment

Ceratitis capitata

(Wiedemann) 

(Mediterranean 

fruit fly);

Anastrepha spp. 

Mango

(Mangifera 

indica L.) 

All 

countries 

required to 

use T102-a

B. Purpose

This treatment evaluation document (TED) provides supporting information and 

justification for amending hot-water immersion treatment T102-a

(http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/treatment.pd

f). The amendment to the treatment schedule is necessary to allow importation into the 

United States of mangoes, Mangifera indica L., weighing more than 650 grams (also 

known as over-sized mangoes) from countries currently prohibited and to remove shape 

and country restrictions associated with the treatment.

C. Overview 

(i) Over-sized mangoes from countries currently prohibited 

In accordance to the APHIS regulations 7 CFR §319.56, importation of mangoes from 

different countries are allowed subject to satisfying specific entry requirements. 

Mangoes from Mexico, certain Caribbean islands, and countries in South and Central 

America must be treated with the appropriate T102-a hot-water immersion treatment 

schedule, prior to importation into the United States, to mitigate infestations of several 

species of fruit flies (USDA, 2014a). The T102-a hot-water immersion treatment has 

approved schedules for Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly) and Anastrepha spp., 

including Anatrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly) for mango (USDA, 2014b). The 

treatment schedules for T102-a are organized by country, fruit shape, and fruit size 

(weight). As countries gained market access, the treatment schedules were approved 

based on efficacy data for those locations and fruit types. As a result there exists a 

disparity in the treatment options for over-sized mangoes from certain regions. The 

T102-a has treatment schedules that allows importation of rounded mango varieties 
3

weighing up to 900 grams from Mexico, Central America (north of and including Costa 

Rica), Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the West Indies excluding islands of 

Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Margarita, Tortuga, and Trinidad and Tobago. However, the 

maximum allowable size (weight) of rounded mango varieties that can be treated with 

T102-a and imported into the United States from Panama, countries in South America,

and the West Indies islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Margarita, Tortuga, and 

Trinidad and Tobago is only 650 grams (Figure 1; USDA, 2014b). 

Figure 1. T102-a hot-water immersion treatment schedules as originally approved 

for fruit flies in mangoes originating from different countries.

Pests: Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit fly), Anastrepha spp.

Table 5-2-1. Determine Dip Time Based on Origin of Fruit1

If the origin of the fruit is: And the shape 

of the fruit is:

And the weight is 

(grams):

Then dip

Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin

Islands, or West Indies

(excluding Aruba, Bonaire,

Curacao, Margarita, Tortuga

or Trinidad and Tobago)

Flat, elongated 

varieties2

Up to 400 grams 65 minutes 

401 to 570 grams 75 minutes

Rounded 

varieties3

Up to 500 grams 75 minutes

501 to 700 grams 90 minutes

701 to 900 grams 110 minutes

Table 5-2-2. Determine Dip Time Based on Origin of Fruit1

If the origin of the fruit is: And the 

shape of the 

fruit is:

And the weight is

(grams):

Then dip

Mexico or Central America

(north of and including Costa

Rica)

Flat, 

elongated 

varieties2

Up to 400 grams 65 minutes 

401 to 570 grams 75 minutes

Rounded 

varieties3

Up to 500 grams 75 minutes

501 to 700 grams 90 minutes

701 to 900 grams 110 minutes

Table 5-2-3. Determine Dip Time Based on Origin of Fruit1

If the origin of the fruit is: And the 

shape of the 

fruit is:

And the weight is 

(grams):

Then dip

Panama, South America or 

West Indies islands of 

Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, 

Margarita, Tortuga, or 

Trinidad and Tobago

Flat, 

elongated 

varieties2

Up to 375 grams 65 minutes 

376 to 570 grams 75 minutes

Rounded 

varieties3

Up to 425 grams 75 minutes

426 to 650 grams 90 minutes

1

 Valid if the fruit is not hydrocooled within 30 minutes of removal from the hot-water immersion 
4

tank.

2

 Such as ‘Frances,’ ‘Carrot,’ ‘Zill,’ ‘Ataulfo,’ ‘Carabao,’ ‘Irwin.’, and ‘Manila.’

3

 Such as ‘Tommy Atkins,’ ‘Kent,’ ‘Hayden,’ and ‘Keitt.’

In 2009, the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria (SENASA), Perú Ministerio de 

Agricultura, formally requested USDA‐APHIS‐PPQ to amend the schedule in Table 5-2-

3 to allow the use of T102-a hot‐water immersion as a phytosanitary treatment to mitigate 

fruit fly risks in ‘Kent’ mangoes weighing more than 650 grams. Earlier, a similar 

interest had also been expressed to APHIS by other countries in South America, namely 

Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

The PPQ Treatment Manual has no approved T102-a treatment schedule for mangoes 

weighing 651-900 grams from Peru or other South American countries (Figure 1). In 

response to SENASA’s request, APHIS asked SENASA to provide data showing the 

efficacy of T102-a for fruit flies known to occur (CABI, 2014) and associate with ‘Kent’ 

mangoes in Peru: Inga fruit fly, Anastrepha distincta (Greene); South American fruit fly, 

A. fraterculus (Wiedemann); West Indian fruit fly, A. obliqua (Macquart); sapote fruit 

fly, A. serpentina (Wiedemann); and, Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata 

(Wiedemann).

In 2010, SENASA conducted treatment validation studies in collaboration with APHIS at 

the SENASA Fruit Fly Production and Sterilization Center (CPEMF) facility in Piura, 

Peru. The objectives of the research were as follows: (1) to determine the most heat 

tolerant species and stage of development in ‘Kent’ mango fruits immersed in 46.1°C 

hot‐water bath; (2) to validate the efficacy of T102-a treatment schedule for large 

mangoes, specifically 110‐minute immersion in 46.1°C hot-water bath; and, (3) to 

ascertain the quality of large mangoes which have been immersed in 46.1°C hot‐water 

bath for 110 minutes followed by cooling in ambient air temperature (SENASA, 2013). 

Experimental design and methods followed the “USDA guidelines for hot-water 

immersion research to control fruit fly infestations in Peruvian mangoes” (USDA, 2010).

Comparative studies were undertaken by SENESA to determine the most heat tolerant 

species and stage of development among A. distincta, A. fraterculus, A. obliqua, A. 

serpentina, and C. capitata. Results showed that third-instar larvae of C. capitata were

the most tolerant to 110-minute hot-water immersion at 46.1°C (115oF). A total of 

112,178 third-instar larvae of C. capitata infesting over-sized ‘Kent’ fruits were 

subjected to 110-minute immersion in 46.1°C hot-water bath; all (100%) third-instar 

larvae in treated fruits died. In comparison, only 7% of 112,893 third-instar larvae of C. 

capitata in control fruits died. No significant loss in fruit quality was observed in hotwater immersed fruits (SENASA, 2013).

Based on the research conducted by SENASA, APHIS has concluded that the T102-a 

treatment schedule of 110‐minute fruit immersion in a constant 46.1°C hot-water bath is 

an efficacious phytosanitary treatment for eggs and larvae of A. distincta, A. fraterculus, 

A. obliqua, A. serpentina, and C. capitata in ‘Kent’ mangoes weighing 651 to 900 grams 

(USDA, 2014c) and that the treatment is effective for these over-sized mangoes 

regardless of the country of origin. 
5

In 2014, APHIS inspectors working in Mexico and Brazil observed that approximately 

20% of the treatments involving ‘flat’ or ‘elongated’ mangoes weighing between 525

grams and 570 grams contained fruit that did not reach the target pulp temperature of 

113° F (44° C) at the end of treatment duration. APHIS conducted a review of literature 

that originally supported the treatment T102-a. APHIS determined that mango shape did 

not affect treatment efficacy. APHIS concluded that ‘flat’ or ‘elongated’ mangoes should 

be immersed for the same length of time as are ‘round’ mangoes, and that treatment 

duration should be strictly governed by the weight class. Therefore, to address the fruit 

fly risks and to ensure that the on-going trade was not adversely impacted, APHIS 

immediately amended the treatment schedules in Table 5-2-1 and Table 5-2-2 and

provided the following new schedule on a provisional basis (Figure 2).

Figure 2. T102-a hot-water immersion treatment schedules as revised for fruit flies 

in mangoes originating from countries as provided.

Table 5-2-1 as revised. Hot Water Dip Time Based on Origin of Fruit and Weight Class1

If the origin of the fruit is: And the weight is 

(grams):

Then dip

Mexico, Central America

(north of and including Costa

Rica), Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin

Islands, or West Indies

(excluding Aruba, Bonaire,

Curacao, Margarita, Tortuga

or Trinidad and Tobago)

Up to 375 grams 65 minutes

376 to 500 grams 75 minutes

501 to 700 grams 90 minutes

701 to 900 grams 110 minutes

1 Valid if the fruit is not hydro-cooled within 30 minutes of removal from the hot water immersion

tank.

(ii) Removal of Shape and Country Restrictions

In addition to shape restrictions, this TED also proposes to remove the country 

designations from treatment table(s) 5-2-1 through 5-2-3. Based on Peru’s work on 

validating treatment efficacy on over-sized mangoes and APHIS’ conclusion that the 

110-minute immersion at 46.1o C treatment covers mangoes weighing up to 900 grams 

regardless of the country of origin, restrictions associated with shape or country of origin

are no longer relevant. Country specific import authorizations and requirements will be 

listed solely, in the Fruits and Vegetables Manual and Fruits and Vegetables Import 

Requirements (FAVIR) database. 

Removing shape and country restrictions from treatment T102-a will clarify our 

requirements and save industry the costs associated with grading fruit based on these 

criteria. Please note that the maximum weight size of mangoes requiring 65 minutes 

exposure in the revised Tables 5-2-1 (Figure 2) was slightly lowered from 400g to 375g,
6

to harmonize with the weight limit in Table 5-2-3 while still ensuring that no additional 

fruit fly risks are posed to the American agriculture. 

With these revisions, the new proposed treatment T102-a will appear in one simplified 

table (Table 5-2) and replace the current two tables as follows:

Figure 3. Proposed new T102-a treatment schedules for fruit flies in mangoes 

Pests: Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha spp.

Table 5-2: Determined Dip Time Based on Weight of Fruit1

If the weight is (grams): Then the dip time (minutes) is:

Up to 375 65 

376 to 500 75 

501 to 700 90 

701 to 900 110 

1

 Valid if the fruit is not hydro-cooled within 30 minutes of removal from the hot-water 

immersion tank. Alternatively, 10 minutes may be added to the treatment duration to 

allow immediate hydro-cooling.

D. Historical Performance of Hot-Water Immersion Treatment T102-a

Since 2004, over 200,000 shipments of more than three million metric tons of hot-water 

treated mangoes have been imported into the United States from Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, 

Mexico, and Peru (USDA, 2014d). Interceptions of fruit flies in T102-a treated mangoes 

are rare. The only recorded interceptions occurred in 2007,two mangoes from Mexico 

and a few from Haiti (USDA, 2014e). APHIS conducted investigations to determine the 

cause of these two treatment failures. APHIS ascertained that the two fruit fly 

interceptions in Mexican mangoes were caused by two distinctly different security 

incidents: one involved comingling of treated mangoes with the untreated ones; the other 

was caused by rapid cooling of mangoes immediately following the hot-water immersion 

treatment. For the Haitian mangoes, APHIS determined that fruit fly interceptions 

occurred because shipments contained mangoes that were untreated or improperly 

treated, or originated from fields with unusually high fruit fly populations. APHIS 

implemented remedial actions in both cases and no subsequent interceptions were 

reported. APHIS concluded that the hot-water immersion treatment failures were a 

consequence of improper safeguarding or treatment application rather than the treatment 

becoming less efficacious. APHIS also determined that rapid cooling of mangoes in 

cold water (referred to as hydro-cooling) immediately following the treatment rendered 

the hot-water immersion treatment less effective, especially for large-size mangoes. To 

address this issue APHIS implemented a mandatory requirement that either hydrocooling be delayed for 30 minutes following treatment or an extra 10 minutes of fruit 

immersion be added to the duration of the treatment (USDA, 2014b). The absence of 

interception of fruit flies in hot-water- treated mangoes after implementation of APHIS-
7

mandated corrective measures attests to the fact that the treatment is efficacious on 

mangoes weighing up to 900g regardless of their shape or country of origin.

E. Decision

APHIS’ Center for Plant Health science and Technology (CPHST) reviewed the research 

findings (SENASA, 2013) and agreed with the above conclusions (USDA, 2014c). 

Therefore, CPHST recommends revising the hot-water immersion treatment T102-a and 

providing the 110-minute treatment for all mangoes weighing 651 grams - 900 grams

regardless of the country of origin. CPHST also recommends removing shape and 

country associations with the treatment, harmonizing treatment durations based on weight 

classes only and maintaining the option to either delay hydro-cooling for 30 minutes 

following completion of the treatment duration or to add 10 minutes to the treatment 

duration to allow immediate hydro-cooling as provided in Figure 3 below. The proposed 

amendment will allow importation of all varieties of mangoes weighing up to 900 grams

from all countries currently approved for entry into the United States using the treatment 

T102-a (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Proposed T102-a treatment schedules for fruit flies in mangoes 

Pests: Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha spp.

Table 5-2: Determined Dip Time Based on Weight of Fruit1

If the weight is (grams): Then the dip time (minutes) is:

Up to 375 65 

376 to 500 75 

501 to 700 90 

701 to 900 110 

2

 Valid if the fruit is not hydro-cooled within 30 minutes of removal from the hot-water 

immersion tank. Alternatively, 10 minutes may be added to the treatment duration to 

allow immediate hydro-cooling.

 

F. Authors 

Nicanor J. Liquido, Ph. D.

Entomologist, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, CPHST

Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory, Honolulu, HI

Inder P. S. Gadh, PhD.

Senior Risk Manager – Treatments, 

USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Regulations, Permits and Manuals, Riverdale, MD

Josie Cooley

Team Leader/Writer

USDA APHIS PPQ, Regulations, Permits and Manuals, Frederick, MD

G. Reviewers
8

Walter Gould, Ph.D

Senior Risk Manager

USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Plant Health Programs, Riverdale, MD

Claudia Ferguson

Regulatory Policy Coordinator

USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Plant Health Programs. Riverdale, MD 

Jo-Ann Bentz-Blanco, Ph.D.

Trade Director for South America

USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Plant Health Programs, Riverdale, MD 

H. References

CABI. 2014. Crop Protection Compendium. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau 

International (CABI). Wallingford, UK. Available online at: 

http://www.cabi.org/compendia/cpc/; Last access in May 2014

SENASA. 2013. Final report: Validating the efficacy of T102a hot-water immersion 

quarantine treatment to control fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) infestations in large 

‘Kent’ mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) in Perú. Perú Ministerio de Agricultura y 

Riego, Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria, Dirección de Sanidad Vegetal. La 

Molina, Perú. 197pp.

Shellie, K.C. and R. L. Mangan. 2002. Hot water immersion as a quarantine treatment 

for large mangoes: artificial versus cage infestation. Journal of the American 

Society for Horticultural Science. 127: 430-434.

USDA. 2010. USDA guidelines for hot-water immersion research to control fruit fly 

infestations in Peruvian mangoes. United States Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, 

Center for Plant Health Science and Technology. Raleigh, NC. 3pp.

USDA. 2014a. Fruits and Vegetable Import Requirements (FAVIR). United States 

Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant 

Protection and Quarantine. Riverdale, MD. Available online at: 

https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual/index.cfm?CFID=542349&CFTOKEN=9

971ac5c626b4f-45F6C3E9-A9E1-0ED9-

2A52AFF75401F4D5&ACTION=pubHome; Last access in May 2014.

USDA. 2014b. Treatment Manual. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal

and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. Riverdale, 

MD. Available online at: 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/online_manuals.shtml; 

Last access in May 2014.

USDA. 2014c. Efficacy of hot-water immersion as a quarantine treatment to mitigate 

fruit fly infestations in ‘Kent’ mangoes grown in Perú: A review of the final 

report of Perú Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agraria. United States Department 

of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and 

Quarantine, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, Plant Epidemology 

and Risk Analysis Laboratory. Raleigh, NC. 5pp.
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USDA. 2014d. Commodity Imports Database. United States Department of Agriculture, 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. 

Riverdale, MD. Last access in May 2014. 

USDA. 2014e. Pest Identification Database (PestID). United States Department of 

Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and 

Quarantine. Riverdale, MD. Available online at: 

https://aqas.aphis.usda.gov/aqas/. Last access in May 2014.