“We are advising the public of our decision to authorise the importation of fresh Oha leaves (Pterocarpus mildbraedii) from Nigeria into the continental United States,” a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES said.

By Chiamaka Okafor


The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorised the importation of Oha leaves from Nigeria.

“We are advising the public of our decision to authorise the importation of fresh Oha leaves (Pterocarpus mildbraedii) from Nigeria into the continental United States,” a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES said.

Famous in south-east and south-south Nigeria, Oha leaves are used in making Oha soup.

Although the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA prohibits the importation of fruits and vegetables into the United States from certain parts of the world, Oha leaves met the risk analysis requirement which led to the authorisation of its importation.

The US prohibits importation of some fruits and vegetables to prevent plant pests from being introduced into the country.



Oha leaves


According to USDA, “based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh Oha leaves from Nigeria.”


Road to authorisation

On 7 June, 2022, the agency published a notice in the Federal Register where it announced the availability, for review and comment, of a pest risk analysis that evaluated the risks associated with the importation of fresh Oha leaves from Nigeria into the continental United States.

The pest risk analysis consisted of a risk assessment identifying pests of quarantine significance that could follow the pathway of the importation of fresh Oha leaves from Nigeria into the US and a risk management document identifying phytosanitary measures to be applied to that commodity to mitigate the pest risk.

After 60 days of soliciting comments on the notice, the agency received no response by 8 August, 2022.

It proceeded to announce its decision to authorise the importation of fresh Oha leaves from Nigeria subject to phytosanitary measures identified in the risk management document.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/591209-us-authorises-importation-of-oha-leaves-from-nigeria.html

Igbo dishes are the best in the world. Make I go eat my ofe oha with enough akpu.

Please don't ruin it by using the importation as an opportunity to go "develop" America.

Femi Fani-Kayode, the Ambassador of Oha soup will not like this.

Nigeria food to the world

spearman:
Please don't ruin it be using the importation as an opportunity to go "develop" America.

I agree 💯. The one that Tinubu did in chicago is still a big issue to all of us sane and hardworking Nigerians.

Oha be going places.

Pterocarpus mildbraedii

The botanical name is hilarious. You go fear name na!
Anyway nice one from the US. Oha soup to the world!! 😁😁

Good News, Gov Emiefiele is please. A simple policy like African Growth and Opportunity Act would make a big difference to African citizens than giving grants that might not affect lives. Exactly what I was trying to explain to Madam 1stGenAmerican .

Igbo amaka

I hope the price will not rise unnecessarily, the cargo airports will now be optimally used, the agricultural industry in the east remains one of our game changers, eastern returnees don't need to do trading

Nigerians should better explore the market it offers because same Oha leaves are also in other countries like Cameroon, Congo etc whose people would also latch on the opportunity.

Wow!

Lovely!

Nonsense

Okay. That's good news.

Good

Nigeria soup to the world

Oha soup to the world. Now many Oha plantations will surely spring up. Who says one can't earn in dollars while in the village.

Oha amaka

..

I pray a particular region don't see it as an avenue to misbehave; smuggling trees/drugs with oha ...

Where is MaureenHD, food don land o

They want us to accept everything they export to us while they ban almost everything we are capable of exporting just to make our currency inferior to theirs. This, is one of the reason other part of the World are supporting Russia against this Western imperialists.

spearman:
Please don't ruin it be using the importation as an opportunity to go "develop" America.

Positive

Lol very soon the US will be the highest producer of oha leaves this people ehn dey know how to use something to their advantage

a chance to develop america by our mighty developers

Oha soup the king of soup

A gift to mankind

God bless our ancestors for Inventing oha soup

South east and south south farmers will make money from this