The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given the green light for Mexican-grown fresh pomegranate and pitaya (dragonfruit) to potentially enter the US.
After carrying out a pest risk assessment, the USDA noted that the fruit could be safely shipped to the US as long as they are irradiated first, The Packer reported.
The notice of a pest risk analysis for Mexican fresh pitaya and pomegranates was published in the Federal Register on 2 August, with comments set to be taken on the document until 3 October.
The USDA said that it would announce its decision on the import status of the produce once it had taken comments on the pest risk assessment.
Meanwhile, The Packer also reported that the USDA has proposed a ruling that would see West African tomatoes head for the US, following an initial request from Senegal.
As outlined in the same Federal Register, the USDA said that the tomatoes would be subject to a systems approach, with produce meeting the strict phytosanitary requirements allowed access.
While Senegal made the initial approach, the USDA pest risk assessment is covering all West African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
