The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has taken decisive action to safeguard the United States from the European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) by expanding the ban to include cherries from the Province of Quebec, Canada. Effective immediately, APHIS has amended Federal Order DA-2017-15 to prohibit the entry of ECFF host commodities from both Ontario and Quebec into the United States.

This action comes in response to the recent detection of ECFF in Quebec and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) decision to extend regulatory measures to include the province. In alignment with existing prohibitions for Ontario, APHIS has determined that Quebec presents a similar risk and thus warrants inclusion in the ban.

To prevent the introduction of ECFF into the United States, APHIS is prohibiting the entry of fresh fruit from the following host commodities originating from the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec: black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), and sweet cherry (P. avium). Additionally, fruits from Wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. are also considered hosts and are thus prohibited. APHIS further requires that imports of these commodities from Canadian Provinces other than Ontario or Quebec must have their origin verified through acceptable documentation such as shipping documents or other proof acceptable to APHIS.

Prior to 2017, fruit of ECFF host commodities were allowed entry into the United States from all Canadian Provinces, subject to inspection at the port of entry. However, due to detections of ECFF in 2017, APHIS issued Federal Order DA-2017-15, prohibiting entry of fruit from ECFF host material from the Province of Ontario, Canada into the United States.

To ensure ECFF host fruits do not originate from Ontario or Quebec, APHIS now requires all imports of ECFF host commodities to be accompanied by documentation verifying their origin.

For further information and updates on APHIS regulations, please visit the APHIS website.