Effective October 1, Mexico's environmental ministry Semarnat has banned exports of avocados grown on deforested land, targeting Michoacán and Jalisco — the heart of the country's avocado industry. The new environmental certificate works alongside the recently introduced labor certificate (CLA), creating a two-document compliance requirement for exporters. Certificates are initially valid for one month and must be renewed every two months.
The move comes against a backdrop of serious enforcement pressure: the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime estimates 80% of Michoacán orchards were established illegally, and last August a cartel leader's arrest prompted threats against avocado business owners that caused U.S. inspectors to temporarily suspend operations. More than a thousand environmental complaints were documented in the state in 2025 alone.
This is a significant escalation beyond the CLA labor certificate story previously covered. Buyers sourcing from Michoacán and Jalisco should watch for supply disruptions as exporters scramble to obtain dual certification — and monitor whether enforcement tightens further as the phased rollout continues.