On September 13, 1999, Panama refused to
issue an import license for a shipment of imported U.S.
fresh vegetables. As a result, 15,000 pounds ($10,000) of
produce were destroyed. The transition to a new
government was cited as the rationale for the change to a
more restrictive practice in terms of issuing import
licenses. Although, the Panamanian government is allowed
to take 30 days to issue a phytosanitary permit, the
practice prior to the new government taking office was to
issue the permit almost immediately upon checking the
exporting country's phytosanitary certificate for the
shipment. Although the new Government has begun to issue
permits in a more timely manner, FAS is monitoring the
situation and recommends U.S. exporters work closely with
their importers to be sure all the necessary documents
have been obtained.
Korea Imposes New Quarantine
Restrictions on Imports of Fresh Fruits from San
Bernardino County, California
In the wake of recent detections on
Mexican fruit flies in an area of San Bernardino County,
Korea has announced that, effective September 20, it will
no longer allow fresh fruit imports from "the
western parts of the San Bernardino Mountains." The
embargoed area greatly exceeds the normal quarantine zone
established by APHIS in response to such outbreaks.
Affected by the action is the Redlands area of San
Bernardino County, an important citrus producing area. In
a related development, Korea has refused at this time to
lift its existing restrictions on all areas of L.A. and
San Diego counties, the Lake Forest area of Orange
County, and the western parts of the Santa Rosa Mountains
of Riverside county, citing continued fruit fly
detections every year or two as the reason for the need
for further review. In these cases, APHIS has in recent
months declared the outbreaks officially eradicated and
has lifted the related quarantine zone restrictions. FAS
and APHIS are working with the Korean Government to
address the discrepancy between the quarantine zones and
the time it takes to lift the restrictions.
