The USDA has extended the comment period for its pest risk assessment that describes potential pests associated with U.S. imports of citrus fruits from Botswana.
The initial deadline was Nov. 4, but comments will now be accepted until Jan. 3, 2025, the USDA said.
The pest risk assessment evaluates pest risk presented by lemon, grapefruit, mandarin and sweet orange (Citrus limon, C. paradisi, C. reticulata and C. sinensis) shipments from Botswana to the U.S. for consumption.
The USDA is inviting stakeholders, industry, partners and the public to share concerns and information with the agency related to the import of the four citrus fruits from Botswana. Comments will be considered for scientific and technical issues raised and may result in changes to the risk assessment, which is available on the USDA’s website.
Comment on this or any USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service pest risk assessment can be submitted to PPQPRAComments@usda.gov. Commenters should include the name of the commodity assessed (in this case: lemon, grapefruit, mandarin and sweet orange from Botswana) in the subject line of the emailed comment.
