All citrus loads being transported in California will now have to be fully covered by tarps. The state passed an emergency law that makes tarping mandatory in an attempt to reduce the accidental spread of the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).
From the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program (CPDPP):
The California Office of Administrative Law approved an emergency rule that requires all bulk citrus loads to be fully tarped during transport regardless of where the load originates from or its destination. The statewide mandatory tarping regulation is in response to a recommendation from the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Committee (CPDPC) to prevent the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid. The California Department of Food and Agriculture will begin contacting growers, haulers and packers to re-sign compliance agreements that include the tarping requirement. These entities are urged to begin preparations now while they wait to receive new compliance agreements.
Why did the Citrus Pest & Disease Prevention Committee ask for a mandatory tarping regulation?
The statewide mandatory tarping regulation is a preventive action to address the spread of the Asian citrus psyllid, and is in response to an analysis conducted by the University of California that looked at Asian citrus psyllid find patterns along transportation corridors. As the number of psyllid finds increase in commercial citrus regions and along major transportation corridors, the CPDPC felt the action was a necessary step to help prevent the spread of Huanglongbing – the deadly citrus tree disease that the psyllid can carry.
What are the regulatory requirements?
The new requirement is a statewide regulation that restricts the movement of regulated articles from “or within” a quarantine area. Revised compliance agreement exhibits will require all bulk citrus loads to be fully tarped regardless of where the load originates from or its destination, even loads that are traveling within a county. Specifics of the requirements will be released soon. In the meantime, producers can review USDA’s tarping compliance requirements for general guidelines. Read the full press release from the CPDPP.