U.S. agriculture officials want to allow avocado imports from Central America and have opened a public comment period on the matter.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to allow imports of fresh avocado fruit from continental Ecuador into the continental United States. After a thorough review, APHIS scientists determined the fruit can be safely imported under a systems approach to protect against the introduction of pests of concern.

A systems approach is a series of measures taken by growers, packers, and shippers that, in combination, minimize pest risks prior to importation into the United States. In this case, the systems approach includes production site requirements, packinghouse requirements, shipment of commercial shipments only, and inspection of each shipment.

A phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating these conditions have been met must also accompany each shipment. Avocados that are ineligible for export under the systems approach may still be imported following APHIS-approved treatment, such as irradiation.

APHIS will carefully consider all comments received by Aug. 14a. This notice may be viewed in the Federal Register at: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-12827. Beginning June 22, members of the public will be able to submit comments at: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2016-0099  

-- Source: USDA