California demands reinstatement of USDA inspections of Mexican avocados amid increased pests

The California Avocado Commission warns of risks to the local industry following the withdrawal of US inspectors from Mexico, and is pressing Congress and the USDA to reinstate phytosanitary controls.

The California Avocado Commission (CAC) has intensified its pressure on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reinstate inspection protocols at Mexican orchards and packing facilities, following an alarming increase in pest detections since the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) transferred those responsibilities to Mexican authorities at the end of 2014. The CAC emphasizes that this change puts a $1.5 billion California industry at risk.

For nearly three decades, USDA inspectors conducted pre-shipment checks at the source, preventing the entry of pests such as stem and seed weevils. However, since the transfer of responsibilities, there has been an increase in cases at Mexican packing plants, raising concerns among producers and members of Congress. The Commission warned that if the necessary safety conditions for reactivating the inspection system are not guaranteed, the import of Mexican avocados to the U.S., which currently supplies up to 90% of domestic consumption, should be suspended.

The CAC has spearheaded an intensive lobbying campaign in Washington, D.C., meeting with lawmakers such as Darrell Issa, Ken Calvert, and Glenn Thompson, and securing a bipartisan letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. Furthermore, Senator Boozman, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, expressed his willingness to intervene. The Commission insists that exporting to the U.S. is a privilege, not a right, and that without adequate inspections, that privilege must be reevaluated.

Source: portalfruticola.com