U.S. authorities have lifted regional restrictions on Peruvian citrus imports, and at the same time allowed the entry of fresh bell peppers from the Andean country. 

Previously only citrus grown in Piura, Lambayeque, Lima, Ica and Junín had been allowed into the continental U.S., but now the Department of Agriculture (USDA) believes the same systems approach used for those regions will be sufficient to mitigate any pest risks.

The measures are aimed at eliminating four species of fruit fly - Anastrepha fraterculus, A. obliqua, A. serpentina, and Ceratitis capitata as well as a Tortricid (Ecdytolopha aurantiana). All citrus fruits except for limes must be cold treated.

The USDA said the new regulation was expected to increase the area in Peru approved to export citrus to the U.S. by about 1,500 hectares over three years.

Additional volumes of citrus expected to be shipped are 5,000 metric tons (MT) in the first year the rule is in effect, 6,500MT in the second year and 8,000MT in the third. These quantities are equivalent to less than 1% of annual U.S. citrus production or U.S. citrus imports.

The five regions previously eligible for export collectively represent 6,700 hectares of citrus orchards of the country's total of 40,920.

The USDA added the primary entities that may be affected by the rule were citrus producers, citrus importers, and support industries like packhouses.

"Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [APHIS] has determined that this action will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities," the USDA said.

Currently, the value of Peruvian citrus imports in the U.S. market is US$51 million annually.

Bell peppers

Peruvian bell peppers must also be grown and packed under specific regulations, and the USDA believes only a small fraction of the country's total volumes will end up in the North American country.

Peru produced an average of about 9,600MT of fresh peppers annually from 2005 through 2011, according to the USDA.

From 2010 to 2014, fresh pepper exports from Peru averaged 356MT annually, the equivalent of about 4% of its annual fresh pepper production.

"Based on Peru's pepper production area and yields, APHIS estimates in the pest risk assessment for this rule that no more than 22 containers (440 MT) of fresh peppers will be imported from Peru into the United States annually. This quantity is the equivalent of less than 0.03 percent of annual U.S. fresh pepper consumption," the organization said.

"U.S. pepper producers and current foreign suppliers will face increased competition because of the Peruvian exports. However, economic effects of the rule will be minimal, given the very small quantity of pepper expected to be imported from Peru."

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