APHIS experts help Dominican farmers resume exports
A team of US Agriculture Dept. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) experts visit…A team of US Agriculture Dept. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) experts visited the country to assess progress to control and eradicate the Mediterranean fruit fly and met with Dominican government officials, fruit and vegetables growers and producer support organizations.
During a meeting with the private sector, attended by around 70 producers and exporters, the USDA experts reported on the procedures to resume exports of products restricted by the presence of Mediterranean fruit fly.
In a statement the US Embassy said the US agricultural experts also visited the Punta Cana area with representatives of other international organizations to observe the actions to control and eradication the pest.
A technical advisory group was formed to work closely with the Dominican Agriculture Ministry to continue the technical assistance provided to the country to identify, trap and control of Mediterranean fruit fly.
“The United States government will concentrate on regulatory issues and assist the Agriculture Ministry to identify future actions with a view to resume exports of fruit and vegetables to the United States, which are restricted due to presence of Mediterranean fruit fly, according to the researchers reported.”