Mexican sweet lime suppliers have been granted access to the continental US market under a new phytosanitary protocol issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).
Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, USDA-APHIS said it believes 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 import of sweet limes from Mexico.
The agency said in a new statement that it has begun issuing permits provided that the sweet limes are imported in commercial consignments only.
Under the protocol, the sweet limes must be irradiated in accordance with 7 CFR part 305 with a minimum absorbed dose of 150 Gy.
Each shipment of sweet limes must be inspected by the Mexican national plant protection organisation and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate declaring that the fruit received the required irradiation treatment.
The certification must also bear an additional declaration that states that the fruit was inspected at the packhouse and found to be free of Brevipalpus californicus, B. phoenicus, Diaphorina citri, and Coniothecium scabrum.
