APHIS Again Extends Comment Period on Proposal to Allow Imports of Hass Avocados From Colombia

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is again extending the comment period, now until March 20, on a proposed rule to allow imports of Hass 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. Hass avocados from Colombia would also have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Colombian government. APHIS already extended the comment period once in January (see 1701130031).