[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LET'S DON'T RISK THE AVOCADO INDUSTRY

                                 ______


                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, growers in my district produce the most and 
the best avocados in the world. In order to ensure that we remain 
competitive we need to make sure our crops remain the best in the 
world.
  For that reason, I rise to urge the USDA to stop the rulemaking 
process that would modify the quarantine on Mexican Hass avocados. I 
ask Secretary Glickman, to prevent a rule from going forward which 
risks the entire avocado industry, especially when there is so much 
disagreement about the quality of the science underlying the USDA's 
determination.
  As a member of the appropriations Committee, I worked with my 
colleagues to address this issue in the fiscal year 1996 agriculture 
appropriations legislation. The bill, which the President signed into 
law back in October, expects the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use 
scientifically credible pest risk assessment and risk management before 
lifting the current quarantine on Mexican avocados.
  During the appropriations process, we asked for the USDA to conduct 
an independent review of the science. Unfortunately, the Secretary 
turned us down and suggested that the avocado industry take the lead in 
this regard.
  The Center for Exotic Pest Research at the University of California 
at Riverside reviewed the proposed rule and published an extremely 
troubling report. Their findings were strikingly different from those 
of the USDA and give me great cause for concern. UC Riverside found, 
and I quote:

       The proposed rule's risk assessment contains undocumented 
     assertions, highly questionable estimates, and improper 
     methodology, and as a result, we find it to be invalid.

  Free trade is the engine that drives a vibrant economy. I know that 
growers in my district will compete against any avocado grower in the 
world. However, the UC Riverside report gives credence to their fears 
that Mexican avocados coming across the border could carry infestation 
that could spread throughout the country. I certainly don't believe 
Secretary Glickman wants to usher in another disaster like the 
Mediterranean fruit fly.
  I think it just makes sense to learn our lesson and take a cautious 
approach. I urge the Secretary to listen to the experts at UC Riverside 
and craft a rule that does not put the American avocado industry at 
risk.

                          ____________________