Mexican Hass Avocado Import Program

We are amending our regulations governing the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico to require handlers and distributors to enter into compliance agreements with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. We are also adding requirements regarding the repackaging of the avocados after their entry into the United States. These amendments are necessary to ensure that distributors and handlers are familiar with the distribution restrictions and other requirements of the regulations and to ensure that any boxes used to repackage the avocados in the United States bear the same information that is required to be displayed on the original boxes in which the fruit was packed in Mexico. These amendments will serve to reinforce the existing safeguards of the avocado import program.