The US Embassy in Ecuador reported on June 21, that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture of that country (USDA) proposed allowing the entry of Ecuadorian fresh avocados to the United States.
After a thorough review, APHIS scientists determined that the fresh Ecuadorian avocado can enter safely the US under the Systems Approach method, which protects US agriculture against the introduction of pests.
This approach includes a series of measures that producers, packers, and shippers must comply with and that minimize the presence of pests before shipment to the United States.
In this case, the approach includes requirements at the production sites, packing plants, the shipment of commercial shipments only, and inspection at the port of arrival.
Each shipment must have a phytosanitary certificate and an additional declaration stating that these conditions have been met.
The avocado that can't be exported under the systems approach, may be exported to the US if subjected to irradiation, a treatment approved by APHIS, the statement added. APHIS will consider all comments made on the proposal until August 14.
Source: EFE