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Due to security concerns, the US Department of Agriculture has officially paused some of its safety inspection operations in the Mexican state of Michoacan.

According to a USDA spokesman, “The safety inspection programmes will remain paused until the security situation is reviewed and protocols and safeguards are in place.” While Mexican exports are not entirely blocked, avocados that have not yet been inspected will not be exported until the inspections resume. Despite this, a USDA spokesman noted that this suspension will not impact any avocados and mangos currently in transit to the United States.

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The Governor of Michoacan, Alfredo Ramirez, has told local media that he has been in “constant” communication with USDA officials and was working to resume exports. He also provided a “guarantee” that inspectors would have safe operating conditions.

This suspension follows an incident in which two USDA inspectors were reportedly held against their will during a protest related to police pay in the region. The USDA has not confirmed this, though hours after this story broke, it confirmed that shipments of avocados and mangos would be temporarily halted.

Not the first time:
Back in 2022, the United States halted exports of agricultural products from the region after a USDA inspector received a threat on his phone. According to officials, an unknown man ordered the inspector to approve a previously rejected shipment of avocados for export to the United States.

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