Safeguarding rules for Mediterranean fruit fly hosts when shipping cherries to Taiwan transiting California July 3, 2008 BACKGROUND:  In 2006, the government of Taiwan notified USDA/APHIS that any shipments transiting California to airports or seaports must be safeguarded due to the presence of the spidermite, Oligonychus perseae (Persea mite), a pest of avocado in California .  This requirement was lifted in February of this year.  However, as of this morning, Thursday, July 3, the NHC was informed that officials of Taiwan’s BAPHIQ expected shipments containing hosts of Mediterranean fruit fly (Med fly) (which includes all deciduous tree fruit) to be safeguarded when moving through California because of existing quarantines for Med fly. The quarantine areas for Med fly in California are: 1) around the town of Dixon, east of Sacramento; 2) part of the city of San Jose and; 3)part of the city of Los Angeles, south and east of the LA International Airport.  It is BAPHIQ’s concern that any truck carrying host material may transit one or more of these areas and possibly become infested, hence the requirement for safeguarding.  Unless additional Med fly detections are made in those areas the quarantines will be lifted, depending on the area, sometime from mid-August to mid-September. CURRENT SITUATION:   While safeguarding is commonly done by those shipping cherries to California , it does present some possible problems as trucks arrive at the California border inspection stations where officials wish to inspect for western cherry fruit fly.  After reviewing options with the regional departments of agriculture and USDA/APHIS, it appears that there are three possible approaches to transiting California while meeting the requirements of both California and the Taiwanese government: Arrange with freight forwarders at San Francisco or Los Angeles airports to have the inspection done at the airport and have the phytosanitary certificate issued there.  If inspection is done after transiting occurs then safeguarding during the flight is not required (unless the shipment changes conveyances in a third country). If the truck is loaded only with fruit destined for export, the pallets can be safeguarded at the packing facility and the truck can proceed directly to the San Francisco or Los Angeles airports.  Cherries will not be inspected under this option. Cherry fruit for export to Taiwan on pallets wrapped with “cool guard” may be comingled with domestic cherry shipments under the following conditions: Each shipment destined to Taiwan shall be accompanied by a federal phytosanitary certificate naming the approved shipper, the shipper’s official ID number and the number of containers in the shipment. State department of agriculture officials shall take an official sample representing the cherries being exported. The sample size shall be a carton representative of the carton size in the shipment.  If there is more than one shipper, state department of agriculture officials shall draw a sample from each shipper.  WSDA shall mark the carton as “(WSDA, ODA or IDA) Sample” and place the sample so that it available for inspection. Shipments with exports to Taiwan that arrive at a California inspection station without a “(WSDA, ODA or IDA) Sample” shall be rejected unless the affected shipper specifically authorizes an inspection of a representative sample pallet wrapped in “cool guard.” Attached is a MS Word file with the specifications for the self-adhesive tape which must be used to secure loads transiting a third country or regulated district when an alternative to a sealed container is used.  This tape can be manufactured to specification by any tape supplier.  Currently, NHC is aware that the Wilbur-Ellis Co. (Karen Gahringer, 509-663-8753) produces and stocks this tape.  Other suppliers may also have this tape in stock.  Shippers must use this tape to secure loads when using option II as described in the USDA export database EXCERPT. Pallets must be wrapped on six sides. Prior to shipping, exporters should consult EXCERPT in addition to their federal/state inspection service officials to assure that the most up-to-date information is used and inspection officials are aware of shipment that will transit California . CONTACT:  For additional information contact Mark Powers or Dr. Mike Willett, Northwest Horticultural Council at 509/453-3193. Northwest Horticultural Council 105 South 18th Street, Suite 105 Yakima, Washington 98901, USA Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615 E-mail general@nwhort.org