Importation of Fruits and Vegetables

We are allowing a number of previously prohibited fruits and vegetables to be imported into the United States from certain parts of the world. All of the fruits and vegetables, as a condition of entry, are subject to inspection, disinfection, or both, at the port of first arrival as may be required by a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector. In addition, some of the fruits and vegetables are required to meet other special conditions. The removal of these prohibitions provides the United States with additional kinds and sources of fruits and vegetables while continuing to provide protection against the introduction and dissemination of injurious plant pests by imported fruits and vegetables. We are also amending the regulations to extend the production area in Arava, Israel, where peppers may be grown for importation into the United States; to eliminate the distribution restrictions for peppers from Arava, Israel; to eliminate the trust fund provisions for papayas from Costa Rica; to declare all Provinces in Chile free of the Mediterranean fruit fly; and to make several nonsubstantive editorial changes to the regulations. These actions relieve restrictions while continuing to prevent the introduction of plant pests into the United States.