US authorities notified the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga) On the progress of the process, which is only two steps to specify the exports of Guatemalan hass avocado to the United States.
On November 7, the Sanitary and Animal Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States officially authorized the Hass avocado import from Guatemala. This announcement marked a significant milestone for national producerssince initially the first exports were expected to begin last January.
However, it was not until June 13 when the last steps of the process are being completed, so the export is already a fact.
As part of the efforts to promote this fruit, in February this year, more than twenty senior executives of international marketing companies They made technical visits to farms in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Sololá, Chimaltenango and Santa Rosa.
The objective was to know firsthand the quality of the fruit and the procedures implemented in the Packaging plants. After months of waiting, the process has reached its final stage and the opening of the US market seems imminent.
The last two steps
After the authorization of APHIS For the importation of Hass avocado from Guatemalathe process is in its final phase
According to him Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga)they only miss Two key steps to officially start the Export to the United States:
- The signing of the final operational planelaborated between the Government of Guatemala and the ABHIS, which establishes the technical and phytosanitary protocols for the production, packaging and traceability of the Hass avocado.
- The signing of the cooperative agreement between him Guatemalan private sector and Aphis, which will allow the official audit to farms and packing plants registered in the program. This inspection will be in charge of an APHIS delegation and will be managed by the National Avocado Association (Anaguacate).
Once these two requirements have been met, Guatemala can formally initiate the shipments of Hass avocado To the US market, opening a new stage of opportunities for the national agro -export sector.
Phytosanitary and traceability requirements
As reported by Directorate of Plant Health of the Vice Ministry of Agricultural Health and Regulations (VISAR)During the technical meetings held in January, February and March with representatives of the USDA, key reviews were agreed to the plan.
The new requirements include that all producing farms who wish to export must be pest -freeincluding al Macrocoturus Aguacataean insect that affects avocado crops.
In addition, a rigorous system of traceability that guarantees that fruit comes exclusively from certified areas as pest -free. This control will cover the entire process: from production to arrival at packing plants and its final shipment to the United States. This traceability will also be part of the Operating Health Licenseissued by the Food Safety Directorate.
Annual presentation of farms and packers
Another of the elements included in the operational plan is the obligation to present, every October 1, the updated list of productive units and Packers registered in the export program. If any of them ceases to meet the health requirements, it will be withdrawn from the authorized list.
This annual process guarantees the maintenance of phytosanitary standards required by the US government and allows a constant verification of the country’s export capacity.
AUTHIS AUDIT AND TECHNICAL VISIT
Once the Operational Plan Be approved and signed by APHIS, a Cooperative Agreement between the Guatemalan private sector and the US health authorities. As part of this agreement, a Delegation of auditors Aphis will perform a technical inspection in Guatemala.
The audit will include visits to producing farms and Packaging plants registered in the Hass Avocado Export Program. These inspections will be in charge of the National Avocado Association (Anaguacate)which will coordinate the actions with ABHIS.
Currently, the preliminary list includes 28 farms producers and Eight packagersall prepared to initiate the export process as soon as the final authorization is granted.
New export opportunities for Guatemala
The entrance of Guatemala Hass avocado to the US market represents a Key opportunity for the agricultural sectorallowing the Market diversification and the consolidation of the national exportable offer.
Currently, Guatemala already exports this fruit to destinations such as Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, France, Canada and countries of Central America. The incorporation of the United States as a receiving market will significantly expand the growth potential of the Aguacatero sector.