The U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) has announced it will prohibit imports of Moroccan tangerines, clementines, mandarins and sweet oranges as of Feb. 8.

The decision was made after live medfly larvae was found on commercial consignments of cold-treated clementines on Jan. 13, during a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry in Philadelphia.

Cargo bound for any U.S. port of entry will be allowed to enter the country if it has an onboard date that is no later than Jan. 21, has successfully undergone cold treatment and past inspection prior to Feb. 8.

"APHIS is also prohibiting overland in-bond transit movements of tangerine, clementine, mandarin, and sweet orange fruit south of 39° latitude and west of 104° longitude in the United States," APHIS said.

"These prohibitions apply to all importation and movement, including commercial and non-commercial cargo, passenger baggage, international mail, and express courier shipments."

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