About This Product
Product Overview
Increased trade in fresh fruits and vegetables provides U.S.
consumers with a variety of benefits including the possibility of
improved nutrition by making fresh fruits and vegetables available
year-round. Imports of these products are regulated by USDA's
Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS) to reduce
the risk of inadvertent entry of pests and diseases that could harm
agriculture, public health, navigation, irrigation, natural
resources, or the environment.
This data product identifies which countries, under APHIS
phytosanitary rules, are eligible to export to the United States
the fresh fruits and vegetables that are most important in the
American diet. Data on the absolute and relative importance of
these countries in international fruit and vegetable production and
trade, individually and in aggregate, are also included. Having
access to information on countries that are currently eligible to
export these products to the United States lays the foundation for
better understanding trade patterns and can underpin analyses of
the market effects of phytosanitary rules. This data product
supports the objectives of the Program for Research on the
Economics of Invasive Species (PREISM) under which ERS, between
2003 and 2008, funded and conducted research in consultation with
APHIS and other USDA agencies to improve the economic basis of
decisionmaking concerning invasive species issues, policies, and
programs.
Why This Product Is Important
Under international trade rules of the World Trade Organization
(WTO), sanitary and phytosanitary regulations that prohibit or
restrict imports of products to combat the potential entry and
establishment of pests or diseases are permitted if based on
scientific risk assessment. The use of these regulations by
countries is widespread. In the United States, APHIS regulates
imports of fresh fruits and vegetables under the Plant Protection
Act (PPA) of 2000. Advances in science and technology are helping
APHIS design less trade restrictive measures that reduce
phytosanitary risks while allowing imports that may lower costs or
extend seasonal availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to U.S.
consumers. Having access to information on countries that are
eligible to export these products to the United States can underpin
analyses of the market effects of existing import rules and
potential changes in these rules. This data product can also
facilitate economic analyses of other programs and policies related
to trade in fresh fruits and vegetables that are of interest to
market participants, international trade and standards
organizations, and development agencies.
This data product provides a snapshot of country/product
eligibility for use in economic analysis; it does not provide real
time information on the import status of a country. Changes in
phytosanitary regulations that might occur as the result of recent
policy decisions or following an outbreak, are published throughout
the year by APHIS. For the most current information, see APHIS Import and Export Information.