US fruit fly experts help Dominican farmers resume exports

Santo Domingo. – Ateam of US Agriculture Dept. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)experts visited the country to assess progress to control and eradicate theMediterranean fruit fly and met with Dominican government officials, fruit andvegetables growers and producer support organizations.

During a meeting withthe private sector, attended by around 70 producers and exporters, the USDAexperts reported on the procedures to resume exports of products restricted bythe presence of Mediterranean fruit fly.

In a statement the USEmbassy said the US agricultural experts also visited the ??Punta Cana area withrepresentatives of other international organizations to observe the actions to controland eradication the pest.

A technical advisorygroup was formed to work closely with the Dominican Agriculture Ministry tocontinue the technical assistance provided to the country to identify, trap andcontrol of Mediterranean fruit fly.

“The United States governmentwill concentrate on regulatory issues and assist the Agriculture Ministry toidentify future actions with a view to resume exports of fruit and vegetablesto the United States, which are restricted due to presence of Mediterraneanfruit fly, according to the researchers reported.”