The Office of Customs and Border Protection of the United States (CBP) declared that it is forbidden to bring tomato and peppers through the border crossings in order to prevent the introduction of the rugose fruit virus.

By a press release, the agency reported that as of Friday, November 22, inspections of imported tomatoes and peppers, lots of seeds and transplants that will enter all ports of entry in the United States will increase.

No passenger crossing the San Ysidro border gate can enter with tomatoes or peppers, they can only be imported through the commercial area and strictly complying with sanitary measures.

The virus does not affect humans, only plants, causing the pepper and tomato to turn brown.

These actions are based on the Federal Order issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. It imposed restrictions on imports and shipments of these species from Mexico, Canada, Israel and the Netherlands.

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