USDA Authorizes Certain Fruit Imports From the Philippines

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized imports of fresh litchi, longan and rambutan fruit, as well as bananas, from the Philippines into the U.S.

Designated phytosanitary measures must be applied to the imported fruit to prevent the introduction or dissemination of plant pests or noxious weeds, USDA said.

Bananas will also have to be produced in accordance with certain requirements for imported commercial consignments, including the monitoring of fruit flies, harvesting of only hard green bananas and inspection for quarantine pests by the national plant protection organization of the Philippines. The bananas will also have to be accompanied by a certificate stating that they meet the requirements.