U.S. authorities have announced mangoes grown in Vietnam are now eligible to enter the country under a systems approach which requires the fruit be treated with irradiation.

The U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said shipments must also be accompanied by a declaration stating that the consignment was inspected and found free of Macrophoma mangiferae and Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae.

The final rule will be effective as of Dec. 29, 2017.

APHIS said around 3,000 metric tons (MT) of Vietnamese mangoes are expected to be imported annually - a similar figure to U.S. domestic production.

Responding to one commentator who voiced concerns over the potential negative economic effects on U.S. growers, APHIS pointed out that from 1997 to 2015 fresh mango imports increased from 187,000MT to 391,000MT.

"While the quantity that is imported from Vietnam is equivalent to the quantity produced in the United States, these imports will simply help meet the growing demand for mangoes," it said.

"Fresh mango fruit imports from Vietnam represent less than one percent of total fresh mango fruit imports."

Latin America supplies the vast majority of mangoes sold in the U.S. market, with key production countries including Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru.

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