Australia and South Africa could be shipping litchis to the U.S. soon, provided they comply with the necessary protocols.

The U.S. Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said Australian litchis must be irradiated for the Insecta plant pest and production areas should be registered with the country's plant protection organization.

Imports must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating conditions for importation have been met.

Litchis would not be allowed to be to be imported or distributed to Florida due to the presence of litchi rust mite in Australia.

Fresh South African litchis would be allowed entry providing the necessary phytosanitary measures to protect against plant pests and noxious weeds had been carried out.

Consignments need verification fruit is free from C.peltastica and T.leucotreta pests.

The deadline for comments relating to South African imports was earlier this week with a Feb. 27 deadline for feedback about Australian litchis.

China is the largest litchi exporter to the U.S. at 2,194MT in 2010, with U.S. growers currently producing 535 metric tons of litchis.

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