Florida Senators Ask for Ban on Chinese Citrus Imports

Florida's two U.S. senators are complaining that the Department of Agriculture decision to allow the importation of five varieties of citrus fruits from China is too risky. They said the pest risk assessment identified "15 pest species of mites, fruit flies, and moths and two pathogens, including those that cause citrus canker and citrus black spot diseases, which could ‘cause unacceptable impacts’ if they enter the U.S. via imports of these Chinese citrus products. Risking the introduction of invasive species and diseases into the U.S. is irresponsible, especially given our knowledge of how citrus greening previously entered our country by imported citrus and is spread by an invasive pest species, the Asian citrus psyllid.”