After a great deal of speculation, U.S. authorities have taken the first steps toward re-opening access for the world's leading lemon-exporting region.

In an announcement today, the United States' Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it planned to publish the proposed rule on May 10 for fresh lemons from northwest Argentina into the continental United States.

The proposal will be open for public comment until July 11.

"After completing a comprehensive pest risk analysis and a visit to Argentina to observe production areas, production and packing practices, and trace back abilities, APHIS has determined lemons produced in Northwest Argentina can be safely imported into the continental United States utilizing a systems approach," APHIS said.

This approach would require several safeguards across the fruit production continuum to effectively reduce any risk.

"Additionally, lemons from northwest Argentina would have to be harvested green within a certain time period, or treated for Mediterranean fruit fly in accordance with an approved treatment schedule."

Californian response

In a statement, California Citrus Mutual (CCM) said the USDA and the Obama Administration had "defied logic" with the proposed rule.

"This followed on the heels of proposed rules allowing Chilean lemons into the country under less stringent protocols to avoid invasive pest and diseases," CCM said.

"The Chilean rule followed a proposal to allow Australian oranges into the United States from a heretofore designated pest infested area.

"The Argentine proposal defies logic by relying upon a pest and disease trip almost eight years ago, therefore lacking any knowledge of present day pest and disease reality. The proposal lacks logic because it came after a whirlwind trip by our President who wants to reward the Argentine government for doing nothing, other than getting elected."

The industry body said the proposal defied logic because the previous Argentine Administration had denied and cancelled access for many agricultural products.

"It defies logic because in 2014 the Argentines exported almost $400m in agricultural products to the United States, whereas we exported a paltry $5m of comparable product to Argentina," CCM said.

"Today while the U.S. industry is fighting to stay vibrant against the ravages of an incurable disease, Huanglongbing, the Obama Administration wishes to bring more fruit from pest infested and diseased areas. What kind of logic is that?

"Today the California citrus industry, the nation's supplier of fresh citrus, has spent over $100m defending itself from Huanglongbing and this Administration seeks to undercut that effort with less expensive product from pest infested and diseased areas."

CCM also took a stab at the type of structures present in Argentine agriculture as well.

"The California citrus industry is an industry dominated by the family farmer. The Argentine industry is dominated by a handful of producers that are truly supported by their government," the group said.

"It's too bad the Obama Administration and USDA acquiesced to a request without a logical foundation. We have no choice but to fight for our survival."

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