The U.S. is proposing to allow Philippine banana imports if the fruit complies with a range of entry conditions, while it has also conducted a risk analysis on Egyptian strawberries.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) officials have said Philippine bananas should be safe to import.

They are proposing to allow imports, so long as bananas are checked for fruit flies, arrive in a hard green condition and are sold as commercial consignments.

APHIS said banana shipments would need to have with a phytosanitary certificate with a declaration of where they were grown, packed, inspected, and that they were found to be free of quarantine pests.

"This action would allow the importation of bananas from the Philippines while continuing to protect against the introduction of plant pests into the U.S.," said an APHIS release.

APHIS also conducted a pest risk analysis of Egyptian strawberries and decided there should be no problem for imports if phytosanitary measures were met.,

Inspectors have asked for comments about the proposals to be made by Jun. 15.

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