APHIS Reissues Systems Approach for the Interstate Movement of Tomatoes from a Mediterranean Fruit Fly Quarantined Area

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION 
DA-2026-31 
August 25, 2026 


Subject: APHIS Reissues Systems Approach for the Interstate Movement of Tomatoes from a Mediterranean Fruit Fly Quarantined Area 

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is reissuing this Federal Order with the conditions for the interstate movement of regulated fresh tomato fruit from Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, Medfly) quarantine areas nationwide. APHIS previously included these conditions in Federal Order DA-2016-05. APHIS is not changing the conditions of the systems approach, but is separating out the conditions for the interstate movement of fresh citrus fruit from a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens, Mexfly) quarantine in Texas that APHIS had also included in DA-2016-05 and that were revised in Federal Order DA-2025-38. APHIS is also updating the language and format of this Federal Order. This Federal Order does not change the requirements necessary to export tomato fruit and it supersedes the requirements in Federal Order DA-2016-05 for the interstate movement of tomato fruit from a Medfly quarantine area.

APHIS regulates the interstate movement of Medfly host articles from all areas quarantined for Medfly in the United States in accordance with 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 301.32 through 301.32-10 and any applicable provisions of this Federal Order

The APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies webpage contains a description of all current Federal fruit fly quarantines, regulated articles/host lists, and this Federal Order.

For additional information you may contact:

Catherine A. Marzolf 
National Policy Manager 
386-666-9932 
catherine.a.marzolf@usda.gov

Glorimar Marrero 
Assistant National Policy Manager 
240-577-4633 
glorimar.marrero@usda.gov

/s/

Matthew A. Rhoads 
Deputy Administrator 
Plant Protection and Quarantine

Federal Order (225.33 KB)