APHIS expands HLB quarantine footprint in Southern California
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an expansion to federal citrus greening (HLB) quarantines in Southern California. The preventive measure adds 29 square miles around Capistrano Beach in Orange County and 129 square miles around Murrieta in Riverside County.
APHIS says the decision comes after plant tissue samples from residential properties in both counties tested positive for HLB. According to the agency, the Orange County expansion does not include any commercial citrus, while the Riverside expansion covers 170 acres of commercial groves.
Safeguards tighten for regulated fruit movement
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures under 7 CFR 301.76 and related federal orders to regulate the interstate movement of citrus and host material from the new quarantine zones.
The agency says these steps aim to prevent the spread of HLB to non-infested regions in the United States.
Specific maps and updates are available on the APHIS Citrus Greening website, and there are plans for an official notice in the Federal Register.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is also providing guidance to growers, packers, and transporters, with a Pest Hotline available for further information.
The CDFA’s website also contains a document on what to expect in response to a confirmed HLB detection, detailing activities the organization may conduct in communities affected by the disease.
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