USDA seeks comment on draft pest risk assessment for onion imports from the Netherlands

The Government of Netherlands has asked the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize onion imports (Allium cepa) for consumption into the U.S. under a preclearance program.

The USDA has drafted a pest risk assessment that describes potential pests associated with the commodity, according to a news release. 

The agency shares draft pest risk assessments to determine whether stakeholders have information that might lead us to revise the draft assessment before we identify pest mitigations and proceed with the commodity import approval process, according to the release.

The draft pest risk assessment for onion (Allium cepa) for consumption from Netherlands will be available for review and comment until January 28, according to the release. To view the assessment or submit comments, go to this website.

After Mexico, Peru and Canada, the Netherlands is the fourth leading international supplier of onions to the U.S.

U.S. imports of Netherland onions from November 2020 to October 2021 totaled $7.13 million, up 38% from the previous year.