Guidelines for Importers of Produce
Requirements for Shipping into Florida: (For Consumption)
Commodity: |
Certification Required: |
Authority: |
| All produce, foreign and domestic | Bill of lading requirements must be met. | See Florida Administrative Code: 5B-3.003 and 5B-3.0032 |
All organic and noncommercial produce from the states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas, New Mexico, Washington 1 (See exemptions below) |
Inspection for freedom of plant feeding (phytophagous) snails: Certificate of Quarantine Compliance (California) or other certificate of inspection. | CHAPTER 5B-43 PHYTOPHAGOUS SNAILS |
| Green onions, sugar snap peas, snow peas, and English peas (in the pod) from California | 2 Inspection for freedom of Pea Leaf Miner : Certificate of Quarantine Compliance | CHAPTER 5B-3.0038 |
Organic lettuce from California 3(See exemptions below) |
4 Inspection for freedom of Aphids (Nasonovia ribisnigri): Certificate of Quarantine Compliance | CHAPTER 5B-3.0038 |
1 At this time, commercial shipments of non-organic fruits and vegetables are not required to be accompanied by a certificate for freedom of plant feeding snails. However, all products are subject to additional inspection upon arrival, and if found to be infested, the shipment must be fumigated, destroyed, or returned out of State at the shippers expense.
2 Be advised that host material for pea leaf miner is subject to additional inspection upon arrival, and if found to be infested, the shipment must be fumigated, destroyed, or returned out of State at the shippers expense. This applies to product from Mexico and Guatemala, as well as California.
3 Organically grown lettuce that have been chopped and packaged are not required to be accompained by a certificate for freedom of aphids (Nasonovia ribisnign).
4 Be advised that organically grown lettuce is subject to additional inspection upon arrival, and if found to be infested, the shipment must be fumigated, destroyed, or returned out of State at the shippers expense.
Commercial shipments defined – Shipments of agricultural products identified as having been produced for sale and distribution in mass markets. Such identification is based on a variety of indicators, including, but not limited to: quantity of produce, type of packaging, identification of grower or packing house on the packaging, and documents consigning the shipment to a wholesaler or retailer.
PRODUCE EXEMPT FROM SNAIL RULE:
Round or hard fruit and vegetables that do not have leaves attached. (Examples would be avocados, citrus, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, etc.).
Celery that has been cleaned, processed and packaged.
Fruit or vegetables that have been chopped and packaged or that are in vacuum sealed containers.
If in doubt, request certification from your State Department of Agriculture. Avoid costly delays!
