Commercial shipments of avocados to U.S. now permitted year round

EL PASO, TEXAS-As of Jan. 31, 2005, commercial shipments of fresh Hass avocado imports from approved orchards and municipalities in Michoacan, Mexico are permitted year-round into 47 states, but not in Florida, Hawaii and California. This change in law does not apply to personal imports.

This action by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) was published as a final rulemaking in the Nov. 30, 2004, Federal Register.

These regulations are now enforced at the United States land borders and ports of entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers and Agriculture Specialists.

The regulations require proof that these avocados have been grown in an approved orchard in the municipality of Michoacan, Mexico.

The avocados must be packed in clean, new boxes or clean plastic reusable crates prior to export to the United States, and the boxes or crates clearly marked with name of the grower, packing house and exporter.

These phytosanitary measures are required to reduce the risk of introducing plant pests, such as fruit flies or weevils, into the United States.

Previous regulations limited the distribution of fresh Hass avocado fruit to only 31 states, and permitted shipments from Oct. 15 through April 15 only.

This new rule has no effect on the current rules governing personal shipments, i.e., agricultural products carried by individual travelers, in personal conveyances, buses, or in packages carried by pedestrians.

The current USDA/APHIS rules state: Mexican avocados, without seed are permitted after passing inspection (except into California, Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, or Guam).

Fruit that does not meet this entry requirement will be intercepted by inspection personnel and destroyed according to USDA procedures.

All agricultural products must be declared by those seeking to enter the United States, and are subject to inspection.

Violators are subject to on-the-spot civil penalties of up to $1,000 or more. The APHIS rules can be found online at: www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/notice_mexbor.html