The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. (APHIS) has started inspecting Spanish production areas, particularly in Murcia and Malaga, as a prerequisite for the export of apricots and avocados.
The APHIS' inspection includes a visit to the production areas to check compliance with the requirements of the work plan prepared by APHIS and the Ministry of Agriculture for the export of apricots and avocados.
Apricots and avocados from Spain intended for the U.S. market must have been grown according to previously approved specific plans. These include a list of plots and registered warehouses which are then visually inspected for the detection of pests. Moreover, samples of 200 fruits are randomly checked for the possible presence of fruit fly larvae. Each shipment must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture containing an additional statement confirming the shipment is free of certain pests.
The visit also includes meetings with Plant Health officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Councils of Murcia and Andalusia.
Prior to this visit, FEPEX had signed a Cooperation Agreement for the inspection and certification of products to be exported to the United States: avocado and apricot. This agreement includes a specific annual inspection programme for each product and a financial plan that covers all costs generated by inspection programmes from APHIS officials in Spain.