Table Of ContentHistoric, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.
United States
Department of
Agriculture
National Agricultural Library
Avocado
Importation of Fruit
Persea americana) from Mexico
(
Supplemental Pest Risk Assessment
May 995
1
Agency Contact:
Michael J. Firko, Ph.D., Entomologist
Biological Assessment and Taxonomic Support (BATS)
Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
4700 River Road, Unit 133
Riverdale, MD 20737-1236
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Table of Contents
I. Introduction . 1
A. General 1
B. Historical Perspective, Regulatory Authority, Current Importations 3
.
C. Proposed Action 3
D. Assessment of Weediness Potential of Avocado 5
E. Summary of Risk Assessment Methods 5
II. Pests Associated with Avocado in Mexico 7
A. Pest List 7
B. Quarantine Pests Selected for Further Analysis 18
Extended Assessment, Selected Quarantine Pests 19
III.
A. Estimates of Pest Risk Potential 19
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B. Scenario Analysis 23
C. Monte Carlo Simulations 24
a. General 24
b. Methods 26
c. Results: Estimated Probability/Frequency of Pest Outbreaks 34
. .
IV. References 36
V. Preparation, Consultation and Review 40
:
Introduction
I.
A. General
This supplemental pest risk assessment was prepared by the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to examine plant pest
risks associated with the importation of avocado fruits Persea americana grown in Mexico.
( )
However, this supplemental risk assessment is only one component of APHIS’ overall
analysis of risks associated with importations of Mexican avocado fruit. The primary
components of APHIS’ overall analysis are:
Risk Assessment Process:
Initial risk assessments (i.e., decision sheets for arthropod pests and pathogens of
avocado in Mexico (APHIS, 1992; included as Attachments 1 and 2 of Risk
Management Analysis: A Systems Approachfor Mexican Avocados (APHIS,
1995)).
Potential Economic Impacts ofan Avocado Weevil Infestation in California
(APHIS, 1993).
Economic Impact ofthe Establishment ofMexican Fruit Fly in the United States
(APHIS, 1993).
APHIS review of material submitted by Mexico (e.g Proposed Work Planfor the
.,
Exportation ofHass Variety Avocadofrom Mexico to the United States (Direccion
General de Sanidad Vegetal (DGSV), 1994)).
APHIS review of other documents listed on pp. 2-3 of Risk Management Analysis
A Systems Approachfor Mexican Avocados.
This supplemental risk assessment.
Risk Management Process:
Establishment and subsequent meetings (at APHIS headquarters and on-site in
Mexico) of the APHIS Oversight Group.
An analysis of a proposed risk mitigation program as reported in Risk
Management Analysis: A Systems Approachfor Mexican Avocados (APHIS, 1995).
APHIS review of over 300 comments received in response to the Advance Notice
ofProposed Rulemaking (59 FR 59070-59071, Docket No. 94-116-1) regarding
importation of Mexican avocado fruit (details of these 300 comments will be
available for public comment should a draft regulation for importation of Mexican
avocado fruit be published).
Risk Communication Process:
Publication in the Federal Register (November 15, 1994) of the Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (59 FR 59070-59071, Docket No. 94-116-1) regarding
importation of Mexican avocado fruit.
Mexican avocadofruit: Supplemental Risk Assessment page 1
”
Consultation with outside experts (e.g., State and Federal government officials,
representatives of industry, academic researchers).
Distribution of documents listed above in the risk assessment and risk management
sections.
Should APHIS decide to propose a program for importation of Mexican avocado
fruit, a draft regulation will be published in the Federal Register for public
scrutiny and comment.
APHIS’ final decisions regarding importation of Mexican avocado fruit will rely on all of the
risk analysis tools listed above. Although most of the documents listed above consider
management options, it has not yet been determined that APHIS will pursue importations of
Mexican avocado fruit. Nor has it been determined what measures would be used to manage
plant pest risk should APHIS proceed with a proposed rule for importations of Mexican
avocado fruit. A program has been proposed to mitigate plant pest risks (see "Risk
Management Analysis: A Systems Approachfor Mexican Avocados (APHIS, 1995). In this
supplemental risk assessment, we examine the risk associated with importations of Mexican
avocado fruit with and without the proposed suite of mitigation measures. Should APHIS
decide to propose a particular program to allow importation of Mexican avocado fruit, it
would be published as a proposed rule in the Federal Register for comment by the public.
The primary components of this supplemental risk assessment are:
A consideration of avocado pests found in Mexico and the U.S.
A qualitative assessment of pest risk potential (quarantine pests)
biological information on quarantine pests
A scenario analysis considering the probability that infested fruit would be transported
to suitable habitat (for quarantine pests)
Quantitative estimates of THE likelihood that infested fruit would be transported to
suitable habitat (quarantine pests)
Brief recommendations regarding measures to manage plant pest risk
This supplemental risk assessment was "pathway-initiated" (i.e., we initiated the assessment
in response to the request by the Mexican government for permission to import a particular
commodity). In this case, the importation of avocado fruit from Mexico into the U.S. is a
potential pathway for introduction of plant pests. International plant protection organizations
(e.g., North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO)) provide guidance for conducting pest risk analyses. Pest
risk assessment is defined as "Determination of whether a pest is a quarantine pest and
evaluation of its introduction potential" (FAO, 1995) and quarantine pest is defined as "A
pest of potential economic importance to the area endangered thereby and not yet present
there, or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled" (FAO, 1995;
NAPPO/FAO, 1991)). Thus, pest risk assessments should consider both the likelihood and
consequences of introduction of quarantine pests. Both issues are addressed in this
supplemental pest risk assessment.
Mexican avocadofruit: Supplemental Risk Assessment page 2
