APHIS Loosens Restrictions on Imports of Cherimoya From Chile

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of cherimoya fruit from Chile into the entire U.S. without the currently required soapy water and wax treatment, it said in a final rule. The cherimoya would be required to be produced under a systems approach with requirements for production site registration, low pest prevalence area certification, post-harvest processing, and fruit cutting and inspection at the packinghouse. Cherimoya that don't meet the requirements of the systems approach would still be allowed for importation under the soapy water and wax treatment. The final rule takes effect April 30.