US requires figs from Mexico to be irradiated

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is implementing restrictions on all commercial shipments of fresh figs imported from Mexico, effective August 24. The measure is to prevent the introduction of the black fig fly (BFF) in the United States, after the detections of pests in the Latin American country. APHIS says there have been detections of BFF in figs in the Mexican states of Baja California Sur, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos and Puebla. Prior to the effective date of this order, fresh fig fruit from Mexico may enter the United States as commercial shipments under certain pest mitigation strategies. However, APHIS is modifying the import requirements for all figs from Mexico as a pest risk mitigation measure for BFF. APHIS will require fresh fig fruit from all growing areas in Mexico to be irradiated at 400 Gy, which is an APHIS approved treatment. Consignments of fresh figs may be irradiated as part of an APHIS prior authorization program or ...