Untreated citrus from Mexico to transit Corpus Christi, Houston ports

Untreated citrus from Mexico to transit Corpus Christi, Houston ports    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will implement rules that will allow the movement of untreated oranges, tangerines and grapefruit from Mexico to the Texas seaports of Corpus Christi and Houston for export overseas.
   The USDA said it took the action based on requests from the authorities of both ports. According to the USDA, Corpus Christi and Houston have made it “more convenient and less costly” for Mexican exporters of these fruits to ship larger volumes overseas. However, it has also increased the potential for fruit fly outbreaks in Texas.
   The rulemaking, effective Oct. 23, requires untreated Mexican citrus bound to Corpus Christi and Houston to be shipped in sealed, refrigerated containers and insect-proof packaging and via routes that avoid U.S. citrus production areas.
   In addition, the USDA now requires all shipments of untreated oranges, tangerines and grapefruits moving through the United States from Mexico to have a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bond. Previously, the USDA required that air and rail shipments of these fruits move in customs bond. “We believe that the requirement that truck and vessel shipments must move in U.S. Customs bond will serve as an additional safeguard,” the USDA said.