US: APHIS seeks comments on draft Pest Risk Assessment for the importation of berry plants from Mexico

The Government of Mexico has asked USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize the importation of Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis Porter) and Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) tissue culture plants for planting into the United States and Territories. APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment that describes potential pests associated with the commodity.

APHIS shares draft pest risk assessments to determine whether stakeholders have information that might lead us to revise the draft assessment before we identify pest mitigations and proceed with the commodity import approval process.

The draft pest risk assessment for Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis Porter) and Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) tissue culture plants for planting will be available for review and comment until January 31, 2022. To view the assessment or submit comments, go to https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/risk-assessment-consultation.