J5(3 BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT QUARANTINE [Oct.-I>ec. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS RELATING TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE 
QUARANTINE (NO. 56) 
B. E. P. Q. 417 
STERILIZATION OF IMPORTED VINIFERA GRAPES BY REFRIGERATION 
Approved and effective Nov. 9, 1936) 
The method of sterilization herein authorized supersedes and cancels the 
treatment authorized in B. P. Q.-'M\2 and its supplements. 
Recent experimental work by the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine 
of the United states Department «>f Agriculture has proven that all stages 
of tiie Mediterranean fruit fly in fruit will be destroyed if the fruit is sub- 
jected to the following treatment: 
"Cooling until the approximate center of the fruit in the package readies 
a temperature of 34°. F. and holding the fruit at or below that temperature 
for a period <>f 12 days." 
On the basis of the evidence secured provision is made for the entry, under 
permit and sterilization, of grapes of the vinifera type from regions in which 
the Mediterranean fruit fly occurs, at the port of New York and such other 
northern ports as may be subsequently approved, under the following conditions: 
(1) The grapes must be packed in tight barrels or kegs or other approved 
containers so constructed as to prevent the escape from the container pending 
sterilization, of any stages of the Mediterranean fruit fly. should they be 
present. Any broken containers wherever found must lie immediately repacked 
under the supervision of an inspector of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant 
Quarantine or the contents shall lie immediately destroyed in a manner satis- 
factory to the inspector. 
(2) Within 24 hours from the time of unlading, the grapes shall be delivered 
for treatment to an approved sterilization plant. 
To provide necessary safeguards for movement to and handling at approved 
sterilization plants, those concerns designated to sterilize fruit are required to 
tile an application and complete a written agreement with the Bureau of 
Entomology and Plant Quarantine. The Bureau will approve only those 
plants which are adequately equipped to handle and sterilize the fruit. 
Sterilization will be done under the supervision of plant quarantine inspec- 
tors of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. These inspectors 
shall at all times be given access to fruit while in process of sterilization. 
They will supervise the movement of the fruit from the docks to and from 
the sterilization rooms. 
Shipments offered for entry may be allowed to leave customs custody under 
redelivery bond for sterilization. Final release of the shipment by the collec- 
tor of customs and cancelation of the bond will be effected after the inspector 
of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine has notified the collector 
of customs that the required treatment has been given. 
(3) For the purpose of additional safeguards and to eliminate possible risk 
that might be occasioned by breakage of containers, the entry of grapes is 
limited to the period from October 1 to April 15, when susceptible fruits will 
not be available for oviposition by fruit flies should any escape prior to 
the containers being placed in the approved sterilization chambers. 
In authorizing the entry of fruit into the United States, sterilized in ac- 
cord;! nee with the above requirements, it should be emphasized that inexact- 
ness and carelessness in applying the treatment may result in injury to the 
fruit, but. in event of resulting injury, neither the Department of Agriculture 
nor its employees will be responsible. 
Lee A. Strong. 
Chief. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. 
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE QUARANTINE NO. 56, WITH REVISED REGULATIONS 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE 
The printed supply of Notice of Quarantine No. 56, with supplemental regu- 
lations as revised effective November 1, 1932, and of amendment no. 6. effective 
August 1. 1933, is exhausted and this edition is essentially a mere reprint 
