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| Horticultural & Tropical Products Division | Return to the H&TP Home Page |
February 1, 2002
Citrus Canker Has
Spread Into Key-Producing County of Florida
Federal inspectors began a house-to-house search this week after citrus canker was found infecting four residential grapefruit trees in two adjacent yards in Brevard County. The trees are about two miles from the nearest commercial grove. This area of Florida is a key grapefruit-producing region and is reported to provide most of the bagged and boxed grapefruit sold to tourists and mailed across the country. The U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered the canker lesions on the trees during a routine sweep under a canker eradication program aimed at protecting the state's citrus industry. This marks the northernmost penetration of the disease. Previously, citrus canker had been confined to 9 counties in southwestern and southern Florida. These new finds of citrus canker are placing Florida’s $9 billion citrus industry at serious risk. However, according to industry sources, as of Tuesday, no new finds had been reported. To date, there have been no reported trade disruptions as a result of the citrus canker finds. U.S. exports of grapefruit totaled $201.5 million in fiscal year 2001.
Mexico Requires Import Permit for U.S. High-Fructose
Corn Syrup (HFCS)
On December 31, 2001, The Secretariat of Economy (SE) announced that HFCS imports from the United States must now include an import permit to have access to NAFTA tariff rates (1.5 percent ad valorem). This import permit will be issued automatically by the Secretariat in accordance with Mexico’s international rights and obligations. The products affected are: HTS 1702.4099, 1702.5001, 1702.6001, 1702.6002, and 1702.6099. If HFCS is imported without the import permit, SE will apply the general import tariff rate ranging from 156 percent to 210 percent ad-valorem. Despite the fact that the effective date of this requirement is January 15, 2002, SE contacts have indicated that they are not to issue import permits until SE publishes an additional announcement in the Diario Oficial regarding more specific procedures on the administration of these import permits. U.S. exports of HFCS to Mexico during CY 2000 totaled 250,000 tons dry basis.
Japan Increases Monitoring for Unauthorized U.S.
Genetically Modified Papaya
On January 30, the Japanese Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare (MHLW) announced three positive findings of unauthorized U.S. genetically modified papaya. The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has approved this U.S. papaya variety; however, Japan requires a second-tier approval through the MHLW. The Papaya Administrative Committee (PAC) has been working closely with the MHLW to fulfill their extensive data requirements. In response to this development, the PAC may develop an Identity Preserved (IP) handling protocol to ensure that papayas exported to Japan are from non-genetically modified sources to meet buyers’ demands. Due to the findings, MHLW has increased monitoring levels of U.S. papaya imports from five percent to 50 percent. However, if more U.S. unauthorized papayas are found, the MHLW will order 100 percent testing at the costs of importers. The Hawaiian company that shipped the unauthorized variety has announced that it would no longer be handling genetically modified papayas in order to satisfy its buyers. U.S. papaya exports to Japan totaled $8 million in CY 2000.
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