U.S. Allows Some Thai Fruit Imports

WASHINGTON - Jun 20/07 - SNS -- The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced conditions to allow the importation of six fruits: litchi, longan, mango, mangosteen, pineapple and rambutan from Thailand.

To provide protection against the introduction of quarantined pests into the United States, the fruit must be grown in production areas registered and monitored by the national plant protection organization of Thailand, irradiated at specified doses and inspected.

The fruit also must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the fruit was irradiated in Thailand. In the case of litchi, the declaration must also state that the fruit was inspected and found to be free of Peronophythora litchi, a fungal pest. Additionally, litchi and longan are prohibited from entry and distribution to Florida due to the risk of introducing the litchi rust mite, Aceria litchi, from Thailand.

Notice of this final rule is scheduled for publication in the June 21 Federal Register and becomes effective July 23.