USDA to allow Chilean pomegranate imports

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its regulations to allow the import of Chile-grown pomegranates into the United States, effective May 17.
   The agency said these imports are subject to the “systems approach.” Under this approach, the fruit must be grown at a site that is registered with Chile’s national plant protection organization and certified as having a low prevalence of Brevipalpus chilensis. The fruit must also undergo pre-harvest sampling at the site. Following post-harvest processing, the fruit will be further inspected in Chile at an approved inspection site.
   In addition, each consignment of fruit must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating it is free of Brevipalpus chilensis based on field and packinghouse inspections.
   “This action will allow for the safe importation of fresh pomegranates from Chile using mitigation measures other than fumigation with methyl bromide,” APHIS said.
   For more details, access the regulation.