Mexico Agrees to Import Certain Hass Avocados from California, Lifts Poultry Ban on Nine U.S. States
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued two news releases announcing: (1) Mexico has agreed to allow imports of certain Hass avocados from California, under certain conditions; and (2) Mexico has agreed to lift its ban on poultry, table and hatching eggs and live birds from nine U.S. states that had previously had low pathogencity avian influenza (LPAI).
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Details of Mexico's Agreement to Import Hass Avocados from California
According to APHIS, in a protocol negotiated by APHIS' plant protection and quarantine program, Mexico will import Hass avocados from certain counties in California with packinghouses registered to export under the conditions of this agreement, which is effective immediately.
APHIS further states that the avocados must be free of stems, leaves, and other plant parts and placed in properly marked boxes. Among other regulations, a phytosanitary certificate verifying compliance of the packing and shipping specifications must also accompany the avocados.
In addition, APHIS states that for the first 12 months following the signing of this agreement, avocados originating in California may be distributed in all Mexican states except Michoacan, Jaliso, Morelos, Puebla, and Nayarit. APHIS notes that at this time, Mexican officials will carry out an evaluation and an assessment of the program with the cooperation of APHIS and industry. After 12 months, Hass avocados may be distributed to all Mexican states.
APHIS adds that this agreement will be a potential $6 to $24 million boost to the California avocado industry.
Details of Mexico's Agreement to Lift Poultry Ban on Nine U.S. States
APHIS has also issued information on Mexico's agreement to lift its ban on poultry, table and hatching eggs and live birds from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas (with the exception of 11 counties).
Under the agreement, the U.S. is to provide Mexico detailed information on its influenza surveillance program and permit them to observe surveillance activities first hand. Additionally, APHIS and its Mexican counter-part have agreed to hold a workshop in Mexico City to explain the U.S. surveillance program to the Mexican poultry industry.
APHIS explains that the trade restrictions on fresh poultry, live birds and other poultry products began after LPAI was discovered in several U.S. states in 2002-2003. The Mexican market for U.S. poultry and poultry products was $360 million in 2004.
The 11 Texas counties of Gonzalez, Guadalupe, Galdwell, Bastrop, Fayette, La Vaca, De Witt, Karnes, Wilson, Comal, and Hays are not covered by the agreement due to a 2004 outbreak of high pathogencity avian influenza (HPAI) in Gonzalez County. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/26/04 news, 04022625, for BP summary of the HPAI outbreak in Gonzalez County, TX.)
APHIS Contact - Jerry Redding (202) 720-6959
APHIS News Releases:
Avocados (dated 09/30/05) available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2005/09/calfhavo_ppq.html
Poultry (dated 10/12/05) available athttp://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/news/2005/10/mxlifban_vs.html