Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has authorized the importation into the United States — including its territories —  fresh turmeric, (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa. Turmeric is best known for its use in Indian curry dishes and has become a trendy superfood for its ability to reduce inflammation — a common cause of discomfort especially in joints like the knees and elbows.

In authorizing the importation, which was effective Sept. 27, 2022, APHIS said importation is subject to the phytosanitary measures, which prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests or pathogens that these plants may be carrying, therefore;

• Only commercially produced rhizomes of turmeric may be imported;

• APHIS will require that each consignment be inspected by the Samoan National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) — which must issue a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) for each consignment stating that the rhizomes of turmeric are free of pests; and

• Each shipment is subject to inspection upon arrival in the United States.

These conditions will be listed in the Fruits and Vegetables Import Requirements database (FAVIR) ( https://epermits.aphis.usda.gov/manual ). In addition to these specific measures, each shipment must be subject to the general requirements listed in federal law § 319.56-3 that are applicable to the importation of all fruits and vegetables.

BACKGROUND

According to APHIS public documents, it was in March 2018 that the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Samoa, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, “requested market access for fresh rhizomes of turmeric — Cucurma longa” imported for consumption into the U.S. and it’s territories.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the pest risk assessment (PRA) on the government of Samoa’s request for “market access for fresh rhizomes of turmeric” imported for consumption into the United States and its territories was carried out in May last year.

The PRA was to identify the pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of the importation of fresh turmeric from Samoa.  Based on the PRA, a risk management document (RMD) was prepared to identify measures that could be applied to the fresh turmeric rhizome to mitigate the pest risk.

“The PRA determined that there were no pests associated with turmeric from Samoa that follow the pathway of fresh rhizomes of turmeric. The PRA analyzed two pests and found that neither follows the pathway of fresh rhizomes of turmeric,” according APHIS documents posted on the federal portal (www.regulations.gov) last year.

APHIS solicited comments on the notice for 60 days ending on December 27, 2021 and the federal agency received no comments by that date, the federal agency said on Tuesday this week.

(See Samoa News edition Oct. 29, 2021 for further details on importation of this product from Samoa.)