The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that it is amending its fruit and vegetable regulations to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of fresh mangoes from Pakistan into the US.
According to the USDA, the decision has been made based on the findings of a pest risk analysis that determined the application of one or more phytosanitary measures would be sufficient to mitigate the risk of introducing or disseminating certain plant pests into the country via the Pakistan-grown fruit.
In order to qualify for entry, mangoes must be treated with a specified dose (400 gray) of irradiation at an APHIS-certified facility, which can be applied outside of or upon arrival in the US.
In addition, each shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organisation of Pakistan, including the additional declaration that the consignment was inspected and found free of the casual agent of mango bacterial black spot.
The USDA added that the fruit would then be subject to inspection at the port of first arrival in the US, with these rules applying only to mangoes commercially shipped to the country to ensure strict quarantine security.
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