Feds move to ease restrictions on Mexican avocado imports

The Department of Agriculture is considering a rule that would allow Hass avocados to be imported to the United States from Mexico.

Under the proposed rule, individual Mexican states would have to meet certain requirements including trace back labeling, orchard certification, pre-harvest orchard surveys, fruit cutting and inspections at the packinghouse and port-of-arrive inspections.

The fruit would also have to be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate, which ensures the fruit is free of pests and pathogens. The document’s are issued by the national plant protection organization of Mexico, with an additional declaration stating that the consignment was produced in accordance with those requirements.

The Department of Agriculture says it’s trying to keep plant pests from traveling into the U.S. with the fruit. 

“The first additional Mexican State that would be expected to become eligible to export Hass avocados under this proposed expansion would be the State of Jalisco,” the proposed rulemaking said. 

“Currently, only Jalisco is prepared to meet the requirements set out in the regulations for eligibility to ship fresh Hass avocado fruit into the continental United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.”

The rule requires the avocados to be covered with an inspect-proof mesh or lid to protect against fruit fly infestations unless the fruit is inside a refrigerated container or truck. 

The public has 60 days to comment.