USDA paves way for Moroccan raspberry imports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recommended that raspberries from Moroccan be allowed into the U.S.
The agency's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a proposed rule under which the fruit could be imported, according to an APHIS notice.
The agency will receive comments on the proposed rule through Oct. 25, after which it will decide whether to issue a final rule that would allow imports.
Moroccan raspberries may carry a fungal pest, Monilinia fructigena. To prevent its spread, APHIS would mandate a systems approach for imports that would include registration of growing areas with the government of Morocco, inspections and a phytosanitary certificate to ensure the fruit was inspected and found free of the fungus.
Before issuing its proposed rule, APHIS conducted a pest risk assessment and prepared a risk management document on Moroccan raspberries.
