AIT Statement on U.S. Apple Imports
Taiwan's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) informed AIT on December 21, that U.S. apple exports have been temporarily suspended because of a third detection of a codling moth larva in a shipment of U.S. apples. AIT, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. apple exporters all take this matter extremely seriously and appreciate Taiwan's cooperative approach to resolving quarantine issues. The Taiwan market is extremely important to the U.S. apple industry. In response to earlier detections, our exporters have strengthened inspections beyond the procedures outlined in the existing apple work plan.
The goal of both the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and BAPHIQ is to prevent the introduction of codling moth to Taiwan from the United States. As a result of the recent detections, APHIS will begin an investigation of the most recent codling moth detection immediately. AIT and APHIS will work with BAPHIQ to resolve the codling moth concern as soon as possible. We sincerely hope that a strengthened pest control system will enable BAPHIQ to lift the temporary import suspension promptly.