Importation of Fresh Fruit of Avocado, Persea americana Miller var. ‘Hass’, into the Continental United States from Colombia - A Pathway-Initiated Risk Assessment - Executive Summary

Aug 31, 2026

The Republic of Colombia requested approval to import fresh avocado fruit (Persea americana Mill. var. ‘Hass’) into the continental United States from Colombia without a peduncle. Because this commodity had not been imported previously from Colombia, USDA APHIS conducted a pathway-initiated qualitative pest risk assessment consistent with IPPC ISPM guidance. A pest list was built from scientific literature, port interception data, and information from Colombian authorities. Three quarantine arthropod pests were identified as likely to follow the pathway with high unmitigated risk potential, prompting recommendations for mitigations beyond entry inspection.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatDOCX

Pages112

Reading Time39 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 Standard Harvest and Postharvest Processing

1.3 Production in Colombia

2. Risk Assessment

2.1 Initiating Event: Proposed Action

2.2 Assessment of Weed Potential of Avocado

2.3 Current Status, Decision History, and Pest Interceptions

2.4 Pest Categorization—Identification of Pests of Avocado in Colombia

2.5 Quarantine Pests Likely to Follow the Pathway

2.6 Risk Assessment

2.7 Pest Risk Potential and Conclusion

3. Authors, Contributors, and Reviewers

4. Literature Cited

5. Appendices

Importation of Fresh Fruit of Avocado, Persea americana Miller var. ‘Hass’, into the Continental United States from Colombia A Pathway-Initiated Risk Assessment October 31, 2016 Version 4 Agency Contact: Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory Center for Plant Health Science and Technology United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27606 Executive Summary The Republic of Colombia requested approval for imports into the continental United States of fresh avocado fruit, Persea americana Mill. var. ‘Hass’, without a peduncle. Because this commodity has not been imported from Colombia before, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) conducted a pathway-initiated risk assessment to determine the risks associated with importing these ‘Hass’ avocados. We developed a list of pests known to occur in Colombia and associated with avocado based on the scientific literature, port-of-entry pest interception data, and information provided by the Colombian Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA). Commercial ‘Hass’ avocado is a conditional non-host for the fruit flies, Anastrepha fraterculus, A. striata, and Ceratitis spp. Thus, we did not list these organisms in the assessment. We determined that three quarantine arthropod pests were likely to follow the pathway, and qualitatively analyzed them to determine the unmitigated risk posed to the United States. All pests were rated High and for pests with High pest risk potential, mitigations beyond port-of-entry inspection are recommended. Detailed examination and choice of appropriate phytosanitary measures to mitigate pest risk are part of the pest risk management phase within APHIS and are not addressed in this document. Table of Contents TOC \o "1-2" \u Executive Summary PAGEREF _Toc348524911 \h ii 1. Introduction PAGEREF _Toc348524912 \h 1 1.1. Background PAGEREF _Toc348524913 \h 1 1.2. Standard Harvest and Postharvest Processing PAGEREF _Toc348524914 \h 1 1.3. Production in Colombia PAGEREF _Toc348524915 \h 2 2. Risk Assessment PAGEREF _Toc348524916 \h 2 2.1. Initiating Event: Proposed Action PAGEREF _Toc348524917 \h 2 2.2. Assessment of Weed Potential of Avocado PAGEREF _Toc348524918 \h 2 2.3. Current Status, Decision History, and Pest Interceptions PAGEREF _Toc348524919 \h 4 2.4. Pest Categorization—Identification of Pests of Avocado in Colombia PAGEREF _Toc348524920 \h 4 2.5. Quarantine Pests Likely to Follow the Pathway PAGEREF _Toc348524921 \h 44 2.6. Risk Assessment PAGEREF _Toc348524922 \h 45 2.7. Pest Risk Potential and Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc348524923 \h 52 3. Authors, Contributors, and Reviewers PAGEREF _Toc348524924 \h 53 4. Literature Cited PAGEREF _Toc348524925 \h 53 5. Appendices PAGEREF _Toc348524926 \h 69 Appendix A. Harvest, post-harvest practices, and standard packinghouse procedures described for ‘Hass’ avocados produced in Colombia. PAGEREF _Toc348524927 \h 69 Appendix B. Countries with permitted entry of Avocados into the United States. PAGEREF _Toc348524928 \h 71 Appendix C. Current requirements for the entrance of Persea americana cv. Hass from different counties into the United States PAGEREF _Toc348524929 \h 72 Appendix D. Decision sheets for Persea americana cv. Hass PAGEREF _Toc348524930 \h 73 Appendix E. Pest interceptions on Persea americana entering the United States PAGEREF _Toc348524931 \h 79 Appendix F. Pests reported on avocado, Persea Americana, and present in Colombia PAGEREF _Toc348524932 \h 101 Appendix G. Information on Avocado Botany, Origin, and Production PAGEREF _Toc348524933 \h 110 1. Introduction 1.1. Background This document was prepared by the Plant Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Laboratory of the Center for Plan

FAQs

What action was evaluated in this assessment?

Approval for importing fresh ‘Hass’ avocado fruit from Colombia into the continental United States without a peduncle was evaluated.

Why did APHIS conduct a pathway-initiated pest risk assessment?

Because ‘Hass’ avocados from Colombia had not been imported previously, APHIS needed to determine pest risks associated with the proposed import pathway.

Which pests were considered and what was the overall risk level?

A pest list for avocado pests occurring in Colombia was developed, and three quarantine arthropod pests were likely to follow the pathway. All pests were rated High, leading to recommendations for mitigations beyond port-of-entry inspection.

Aug 31, 2026

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