Mexico's Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is running a pilot program through September 30 for a new labor certification requirement — the Labor Certificate for Agricultural Exports (CLA) — that becomes mandatory for all avocado exports starting October 1, 2026. The certification, processed through the Velagro platform, verifies that exporters and their supply chain partners are in compliance with Mexican labor and social security obligations. Avocado is the first agricultural product to go through mandatory certification under this program, tied to a formal government commitment on agricultural worker protections.
Exporters are solely responsible for applying for and processing the CLA, but producers, packing houses, and other chain participants must be current on their labor obligations to be included in an exporter's declared supply chain. The initial certificate will be valid from October 1 through November 7, with the STPS providing training and support during the pilot window.
This is a new regulatory layer on one of the most traded produce commodities in North America. Watch for potential friction at the start of the new crop season if exporters aren't certified in time — any bottleneck in Michoacan or Jalisco could affect avocado availability and pricing in the U.S. market.