USDA Allows Some Senegalese and Zambian Imports

WASHINGTON - Dec 18/08 - SNS -- The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will begin issuing import permits for fresh white asparagus from Senegal as well as baby squash and baby zucchini from Zambia.

Commenting on the decision about white asparagus, the USDA said it believes "the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh white asparagus from Senegal."

For its part, Zambia will need to ensure baby squash and baby zucchini are "produced in accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for pest exclusion at the production site, fruit fly trapping inside and outside the production site and pest-excluding packinghouse procedures.

"Both commodities must also be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the baby squash or baby zucchini have been produced in accordance with the requirements of the systems approach. This action will allow the importation of baby squash and baby zucchini from Zambia into the United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests," the USDA said.