The US has cleared imports of fresh figs from Mexico provided the fruit has been irradiated. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) announced the move on Monday following the publication of the pest risk analysis and completion of the subsequent comment period.
On its website, Aphis said that commercial consignments of fruit with the accompanying phytosanitary certificates that had been subject to irradiation as set out by USDA requirements and all the necessary inspections could be imported into the continental US effective from 30 March.
More than half the figs consumed in the US are imported, with Turkey, Greece and Chile among the main suppliers.
