(Increased inspections)…It will be on imported tomato and pepper fruit.

The Customs and Border Protection says increased inspections on imported tomato and pepper fruit, seed lots and transplants entering all U.S. Ports of Entry will begin Friday, November 22nd. They say it is to prevent the introduction of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus and protect the multi-billion U.S. tomato and pepper production industry. The increased inspections come following a Federal Order issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant health Inspection Services last week and imposes restrictions on imports of tomato and pepper seed lots and transplants from all countries as well as restrictions on tomato and pepper fruit consignments imported from Canada, Mexico, Israel and the Netherlands.