Importation of Fruits and Vegetables

We are allowing, under certain conditions, the cold treatment of imported fruit upon arrival at the ports of Seattle, WA, Atlanta, GA, and Gulfport, MS. We have determined that there are biological barriers at these ports that, along with certain safeguards, prevent the introduction of fruit flies and other insect pests into the United States in the unlikely event that they escape from shipments of fruit before undergoing cold treatment. We are also requiring that cold treatment facilities at the port of Wilmington, NC, remain locked during non-working hours. These actions will facilitate the importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of fruit flies and other insect pests into the United States.