美国商情快讯

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking comments by 20 December on a proposal to establish minimum quality requirements for lots of pistachios imported into the United States that would be the same as or comparable to those in effect for pistachios grown in California, Arizona and New Mexico under Marketing Agreement and Order No. 983. This regulation would specify a maximum aflatoxin tolerance level of 15 parts per billion as well as mandatory aflatoxin testing and certification requirements.At thediscretion of the importer, pistachio lots arriving at aU.S. port of entry would be warehoused near the port orshipped inland to a pistachio handling facility to await aflatoxin sampling and testing. Upon notification of any failed lot, the importer wouldwork with CBP to determine the appropriate dispositionof the pistachios. Pistachios that fail to meet theaflatoxin requirements would be required to be sold for non-humanconsumption, exported to another destination with ahigher aflatoxin tolerance or disposed of under CBP supervision.

Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin that can be found in nuts, dried fruits and grains. AMS indicates that the presence or absence of this toxin is considered a quality characteristic in pistachios because concerns about aflatoxin contamination can impact consumers' perception of the quality of pistachios and therefore negatively impact demand. AMS further states that establishing a 15 ppb limit for aflatoxin in allpistachios marketed for human consumption in the UnitedStates is expected to bolster overall consumer confidence inpistachio quality and strengthen the demand for pistachios.