The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has revised the code of federal regulations (7 CFR Part 301 Subpart M – Citrus Canker) to designate Alabama as a commercial citrus-producing area.
USDA said the Alabama Department of Agriculture informed the agency that commercial growers produce citrus in the state; adding Alabama to the APHIS list will update the regulations to provide the state with federal protections from citrus pests and diseases, which are afforded to all commercial citrus-producing areas, according to a news release.
Additionally, APHIS said it also updated the scientific name used in the regulations for citrus canker. Citrus canker is a citrus disease caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. The updated regulations will use the most current scientific name, the release said.
Members of the public can review the final rule here or by visiting regulations.gov and entering APHIS-2023-0007 in the search field.
