Apples
and Pears: The following temporary requirements are
effective until June 1, 2010.
To export to Israel
both a phytosanitary certificate (PC) and import permit (IP) are
required. Phytosanitary inspection must occur within 30
days of exportation.
Fruit from Washington,
Oregon and Idaho must:
Be free from quarantine
pests including San Jose Scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus);
Originate in a state
free from Conotrachelus nenuphar;
Originate in an area
free from Rhagoletis pomonella.
If
shipments are unable to meet the AD language for apple maggot (Rhagoletis
pomonella) and plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar)
then the shipment must undergo cold treatment either in a
warehouse or in-transit (if the in-transit cold treatment
option is utilized, shippers must use an APHIS certified ocean
container). The cold treatment is:
3.0
degrees Celsius or below for no less than 90 days*;
2.2
degrees Celsius or below for no less than 5 5 days*;
0.0
to 0.6 degrees Celsius or below for no less than 42 days*;
or
0.0
degrees Celsius or below for no less than 40 days*.
Only air probes are
required to measure the temperatures, but 4 additional days must be added to the cold treatment period.
A minimum of 3 probes are required. The cold treatment
schedule applied should be stated on the phytosanitary
certificate.
After
June 1 Israel intends to require that cold treatments meet the
standard in the USDA Treatment manual which stipulates the use
of fruit probes to monitor temperature month other
requirements. The U.S. and Israel will continue
discussions regarding the appropriate treatment methodology,
including obtaining an exemption from cold treatment for pears.
Israel maintains a
zero-tolerance policy towards fruit intercepted with quarantine
pests. However, it
is unclear what species of pests Israel considers to be of
quarantine concern.
When inspecting and
certifying fruit, special attention should be focused on
external feeders and pests such as mites, mealybugs, aphids and
symptoms of disease (such as decay).
Israel’s policy
requires that infested shipments be re-exported.
Fumigation is not official Israeli policy and
when permitted has occurred only after significant intervention
by the U.S. government resulting in long delays. Repackaging or reconditioning of fruit is
also not an official Israeli policy and should not be considered
a likely option.
