The United States has given the green light to import unlimited varieties of Thai Pomelo after 15 years of waiting. Researchers explain conditions that pomelos must pass 400 gray radiation, production and packing plants must be certified and readily registered to participate in the project to inspect the irradiated fruit before export.
The Department of Phytosanitary and Animal Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Thailand office states that the United States allows the importation of fresh pomelo from Thailand under specified import conditions, and those wishing to export fresh pomelo to the United States must register with the Department of Agriculture of Thailand to join the "Pre-Export Irradiated Fruit Inspection Project." It is good news that has been awaited for 15 years after the Department of Agriculture of Thailand proposed opening Thai Pomelo to the US market in 2006 and many other fruits. But until now, it has been permitted by the United States to import only 7 types, namely mango, mangosteen, rambutan, longan, lychee, pineapple, and dragon fruit.
The pomelos must come from GAP-certified farms to export fresh pomelo to the US. The packing house has to be certified with GMP. Before exporting, pomelos must be washed, scrubbed, disinfected, and chemically dipped for "Fungi Disposal" as recommended by the Thailand Department of Agriculture.
Pomelos to be exported must be irradiated at 400 gray to eradicate fruit flies which can be done before export or at the point of import in the United States. A phytosanitary certificate is not required if irradiated at the end of the entry. However, they must be inspected for every imported lot. Also, permission to import pomelo from Thailand must be exported for trade only.
In 2022, interested farms have to register GAP and join the "Pre-Export Irradiated Fruit Inspection Project" and prepare related 3rd parties, i.e., packing house, to be ready for 2023 exports.
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