APHIS Allows More Comments on Proposal to Allow Imports of Haas Avocados From Colombia

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reopening the comment period until Feb. 16 on a recent proposed rule to allow imports of Haas avocados from Colombia into the continental U.S., it said (here). Under the proposed rule, issued in October (see 1610260019), APHIS would set conditions on importation including 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.