APHIS Proposes to Allow Imports of Haas Avocados From Colombia

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is to allow imports of Haas avocados from Colombia into the continental U.S., subject to certain conditions, it said (here). Under the proposed rule, eligibility requirements would include monitoring of places of production and packinghouses; pest-free places of production; grove sanitation, monitoring and pest control practices; lot identification; and inspection for quarantine pests in Colombia. Haas avocados from Colombia would also have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Colombian government, APHIS said. Comments are due Dec. 27.