India has moved a step closer to exporting its fresh pomegranates to the US following positive results for a pest risk analysis (PRA) by US government inspection experts.
In its analysis published on September 29, US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) concluded Indian pomegranates were safe to import into continental US since it would be relatively easy to mitigate the risks of introducing plant pests or noxious weeds with the fruit.
“We have concluded that fresh pomegranate fruit can be safely imported into the US from India using one or more of the five designated phytosanitary measures,” said APHIS acting administrator Kevin Shea.
These include irradiation to make sure fruit is free of the mite Tenuipalpus granati, the false spider mite (Tenuipalpus punicae) and the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. Punicae.
Fruit would also be subject to inspection upon arrival at US ports of entry.
APHIS is now seeking comment from all industry stake-holders and the general public on its pest risk assessment for Indian pomegranate imports. Comments must be submitted by November 28.
An APHIS official told Fruitnet.com she couldn’t predict when Indian pomegranate imports into the US might start because the comment period was still open and APHIS therefore had not yet made its final decision.
Sources told Fruitnet.com a final regulation is expected in early 2012.
Kaushal Khakhar, CEO of leading Indian pomegranate exporter Kay Bee Exports told Fruitnet.com his company welcomed the positive PRA.
“We of course welcome the news,” he said. “We specialise in pomegranates and would surely want to export them to the US. We already export mangoes to US.
“Imports into US are likely to be allowed for Indian pomegranates on the same model as Indian mangoes. An irradiation treatment of 400 Gray is proposed to mitigate the pest risks.”
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