The Animal Plant Health Inspection Agency’s (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) division announced that this fall, fruit and vegetable import permits will be moving to a new online permitting system named ‘eFile.’ The notice sent to stakeholders states that eFile will “will offer a simple and easy way to apply for and receive your fresh fruit and vegetable import permits, in many cases, within the same day.â€
All import permits issued after June 1st, 2020 will only be valid for one year to help the agency transition from ePermits to eFile. Active permits will not be transferred to the new system. Once the transition is complete, permit holders will be able to request new permits in eFile. New permits obtained through eFile will be valid for three years.