With final authorization still pending, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has given the initial go ahead to import fresh Barhi dates from Israel, the Animal and Plant Health (APHIS) has announced.

Barhi dates, Photo: Faheem Siddiq via Wikimedia Commons

APHIS has deemed the pest risk for the fruit low enough to mitigate and opened its assessment and treatment evaluation document to public comment.

As stands, APHIS has requested five phytosanitary measures to allow import, including the inclusion of a phytosanitary certificate to verify proper handling, treatment for the Mediterranean fruit fly and conformation to commercial consignments only. The fruit must also be found to be free of the pathogen Mauginiella scaettae.

Following review of any submitted comments, APHIS will announce the new import status. If conclusions remain unchanged, Barhi dates from Israel will be authorized for import.

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