APHIS Issues Federal Order Restricting Tomato and Pepper Seed Imports

On November 15, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a Federal Order (FO) restricting imports of tomato and pepper seed lots and transplants from all countries where tomato brown fruit rugose virus (ToBRFV) exists, as well as restrictions on tomato and pepper fruit imported from Mexico, Israel, and the Netherlands. The FO, intended to prevent the introduction of ToBRFV into the U.S., will enter into force Friday, November 22.

ToBRFV was first reported in tomatoes in Israel in 2014. Since then, it has been reported in China, Mexico, Germany (eradicated), Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, Jordan, Turkey, and the Netherlands. The virus was detected and eradicated from a California tomato greenhouse in 2018. More information is available on the APHIS website.

For questions or feedback about impacts on your business, contact ASTA’s Ric Dunkle.