The baby squash (Cucurbita maxima) and baby courgettes (Cucurbita pepo) must be grown in Zambia in insect-proof, pest-free greenhouses approved jointly by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of Zambia and APHIS

The greenhouses must be equipped with double self-closing doors.

Any vents or openings in the greenhouses (other than the double self-closing doors) must be covered with 1.6 mm screening in order to prevent the entry of pests into the greenhouse.

The greenhouses must be inspected periodically by the NPPO of Zambia or its approved designee to ensure sanitary procedures are employed to exclude plant pests and diseases and to verify the screening is intact.

The greenhouses must also be inspected monthly for the quarantine pests listed in the introductory text of this section, by the NPPO of Zambia or its approved designee, beginning 2 months before harvest and continuing for the duration of the harvest. APHIS must be allowed to inspect or monitor the greenhouses during this period as well. If, during these inspections, any of the quarantine pests listed in the introductory text of this section are found inside the greenhouse, the NPPO of Zambia will immediately prohibit that greenhouse from exporting baby squash or baby courgettes to the United States and notify APHIS of the action. The prohibition will remain in effect until the NPPO of Zambia and APHIS agree the risk has been mitigated.

Trapping for Dacus spp. fruit flies

Trapping for Dacus bivitattus, Dacus ciliatus, Dacus frontalis, Dacus lounsburyii, Dacus puntatifrons, and Dacus verebratus (referred to collectively as Dacus spp. fruit flies) is required both inside and outside the greenhouse. Trapping must be conducted beginning 2 months before harvest and continue for the duration of the harvest.

Inside the greenhouse

Approved fruit fly traps with an approved protein bait must be placed inside the greenhouses at a density of 4 traps per hectare, with a minimum of at least 2 traps per greenhouse. The traps must be serviced at least once every 7 days. If a Dacus spp. fruit fly is found in a trap inside the greenhouse, the NPPO of Zambia will immediately prohibit that greenhouse from exporting baby squash or baby courgettes to the United States and notify APHIS of the action. The prohibition will remain in effect until the NPPO of Zambia and APHIS agree the risk has been mitigated.

Outside the greenhouse

Approved fruit fly traps with an approved protein bait must be placed inside a buffer area 500 meters wide around the greenhouse at a density of 1 trap per 10 hectares, with a total of at least 10 traps. At least 1 of these traps must be placed near the greenhouse. These traps must be serviced at least once every 7 days.

No shade trees are permitted within 10 meters of the entry door of the greenhouse and no fruit fly host plants are permitted within 50 meters of the entry door of the greenhouse. While trapping is being conducted, no fruit fly host material (such as fruit) may be brought into the greenhouse or be discarded within 50 meters of the entry door of the greenhouse. Ground applications of an approved protein bait spray for the Dacus spp. fruit flies must be used on all shade trees and host plants within 200 meters surrounding the greenhouse every 6 to 10 days starting at least 30 days before and during harvest.

Dacus spp. fruit fly prevalence levels lower than 0.7 flies per trap per week (F/T/W) must be maintained outside the greenhouse for the duration of the trapping. If the F/T/W is 0.7 or greater outside the greenhouse, the NPPO of Zambia will immediately prohibit that greenhouse from exporting baby squash or baby courgettes to the United States and notify APHIS of the action. The prohibition will remain in effect until the NPPO of Zambia and APHIS agree the risk has been mitigated.

Records and monitoring

The NPPO of Zambia or its approved designee must maintain records of trap placement, trap servicing, and any Dacus spp. captures. The NPPO of Zambia must maintain an APHIS-approved quality control program to audit the trapping program. APHIS must be given access to review 1 years' worth of trapping data for any approved greenhouse upon request.

 

Packinghouse procedures

Baby squash and baby courgettes must be packed within 24 hours of harvest in a pest-exclusionary packinghouse. No shade trees are permitted within 10 meters of the entry door of the packinghouse, and no fruit fly host plants are permitted within 50 meters of the entry door of the packinghouse. In addition, during packing no fruit fly host material other than the baby squash and baby courgettes may be brought into the packinghouse, and no fruit fly host material may be discarded within 50 meters of the entry door of the packinghouse. The baby squash and baby courgettes must be safeguarded by a pest-proof screen or plastic tarpaulin while in transit to the packinghouse and while awaiting packing. The baby squash or baby courgettes must be packed in insect-proof cartons for shipment to the United States. These cartons must be labeled with the identity of the greenhouse. While packing the baby squash or baby courgettes for export to the United States, the packinghouse may only accept baby squash or baby courgettes from approved greenhouses. These safeguards must remain intact until the arrival of the baby squash or baby courgettes in the United States. If the safeguards do not remain intact, the consignment will not be allowed to enter the United States.