Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service April 2, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are proposing to relieve certain restrictions regarding the movement of Hass variety avocados. Specifically, we are proposing to amend our domestic quarantined regulations to provide for the interstate movement of Hass avocados from Mexican fruit fly and sapote fruit fly quarantined areas in the United States with a certificate if the fruit is safeguarded after harvest in accordance with specific measures. We are also proposing to amend our foreign quarantined regulations to remove trapping and bait spray treatment requirements related to Anastrepha spp. fruit flies for imported Hass avocados from Michoacan, Mexico. These actions are warranted in light of research demonstrating the limited host status of Hass avocados to various species of fruit flies in the genus Anastrepha, including Mexican fruit fly and sapote fruit fly. By amending our domestic and foreign quarantined regulations, we would make our domestic and foreign requirements for movement of Hass avocados consistent with each other and would relieve restrictions for Mexican Hass avocado producers. In addition, this action would provide an alternative means for Hass avocados to be moved interstate if the avocados originate from a Mexican fruit fly or sapote fruit fly quarantined area in the United States.