USDA proposes expanding Australian citrus districts OK’d for imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing to expand the production areas in Australia that will be allowed to export to citrus to the U.S.

The proposal would also revise conditions for Australian citrus companies to export to the U.S., according to a news release from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Fresh citrus from the Riverina region of New South Wales District, the Riverland region of South Australia, and the Sunraysia region in Northwest Victoria District are allowed, with restrictions, according to a news release. The proposal would OK three additional areas for export to the U.S. Those areas are the inland region of Queensland, the regions that comprise western Australia, and the shires of Bourke and Narromine in New South Wales District.

APHIS has prepared a pest risk assignment and commodity import evaluation document, according to the release, which outlines phytosanitary measures to ensure citrus from the new areas can be imported without introducing pests in the U.S.

The two documents are available for public comment on the Federal Register from Dec. 17 to Feb. 16, according to the release.