An Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) risk analysis has found Mexican pomegranates and dragonfruit should be allowed into the U.S. market.

A brief on the analysis was published on the U.S. Government's Federal Register, calling on the public to send submissions in response the results.

"Based on these analyses, we believe that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of fresh pitaya and pomegranates from Mexico," the brief said.

The report concluded the fruit could be safely imported based on conditions including irradiation.

"If the irradiation treatment is applied outside the United States, each consignment of fruit must be jointly inspected by APHIS and the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Mexico and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate (PC) attesting that the fruit received the required irradiation treatment," the brief said.

"If the irradiation treatment is applied upon arrival in the United States, each consignment of fruit must be inspected by the NPPO of Mexico prior to departure.

"For consignments of pitaya (dragonfruit), the PC must also include an additional declaration stating that the consignment was inspected and found free of Milax spp., Dysmicoccus neobrevipes, Euschistus servus, Maracayia chlorisalis, and Planococcus minor. For pomegranates, the PC must also include an additional declaration stating that the consignment was inspected and found free of Aleyrodidae, Coccidae, and Pseudococcidae."

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