LatinNews Daily - 18 September 2024

*The US Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis), an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, has reached an agreement with Mexico’s agriculture ministry to allow Mexican personnel to inspect avocado farms whose harvests are designated for export to the US. The inspections, which are carried out to certify the absence of invasive pests and diseases, will now be carried out by Mexico’s national service for agrifood health, safety and quality (Senasica). The issue of US inspections of Mexican avocado crops has gained salience in recent months following an attack on Aphis personnel in Mexico’s Michoacán state on 14 June, which prompted the US to temporarily suspend the import of avocados and mangos from Michoacán. This prompted bilateral discussions on measures to protect avocado inspectors.