WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2010– The U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced that it is amending its regulations to allow, under certain conditions, the importation of Hass avocados from Peru into the continental United States.
In order to be imported, the avocados must be produced under certain requirements including, among other things, grove sanitation, trapping and surveys and registration and monitoring of production places and packinghouses.
In addition, the avocados must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the avocados were grown, packed and inspected and found to be free of pests in accordance with APHIS requirements.
Previously, Hass avocados from Peru were not allowed into the country because the pest risk had not been analyzed. However, APHIS has determined, through a recent pest risk analysis, that production and import under the requirements outlined in the final rule will allow the fruit to be imported while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of quarantine pests such as avocado seed moth.
Notice of this final rule is published in todays Jan. 4 Federal Register and becomes effective Feb. 3.
Source: USDA’s APHIS