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United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Importation of fresh edible flowers of Izote (Yucca 

guatemalensis Baker) into the continental United States from 

Guatemala

Risk Management Document

September 6, 2012

Plant Health Programs (PHP)

Regulations, Permits and Manuals (RPM)

Contact Person: Claudia Ferguson
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Introduction

In response to a request for market access to import fresh flowers of izote (Yucca guatemalensis

Baker) from Guatemala into the continental United States, the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA)’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prepared a pest risk 

assessment (PRA) as per the Guidelines for Pathway-Initiated Pest Risk Assessment (USDA,

2000). 

The pest risk assessment document, Importation of Fresh Edible Flowers of Izote (Yucca 

guatemalensis Baker) into the Continental United States from Guatemala, found one quarantine 

pest of Izote in Central America that may follow the pathway (USDA. 2012). The PRA 

determined the likelihood of introduction and consequences of introduction for the gray

pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus neobrevipes Beardsley) and determined that the risk rating for 

this pest should be Medium. For medium rated pests, the port of entry inspection to which all 

imported commodities are subjected to may be expected to provide sufficient phytosanitary

security (USDA, 2000). The mealybug Dysmicoccus neobrevipes is frequently intercepted on 

imported commodities by APHIS and is currently established in Florida and Hawaii (Miller &

Miller, 2002).

Risk Management Measures for Dysmicoccus neobrevipes

The following risk management measures must be followed for izote from Guatemala to be 

imported into the United States:

 Izote must be imported as commercial shipments only.

 Each consignment of izote must be inspected by the National Plant Protection 

Organization (NPPO) in Guatemala and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate (PC)

issued by NPPO of the exporting country stating that the izote in the consignment has 

been inspected and is free of pests.

 Each shipment is subject to inspection upon arrival at port of entry to the United States.

Efficacy of Risk Management Measures

APHIS will only allow commercial shipments of izote and will conduct port of entry inspections. 

Risk mitigations for this commodity and the medium rated pest will also include an inspection by

the NPPO and phytosanitary certificate indicating that the commodity has been inspected and no 

pests are present. The inspection in the country of origin will lower the probability that any

mealybugs will follow the pathway of fresh izote flowers. Currently APHIS inspects for this 

mealybug and considers this to be adequate in mitigating risk for this external feeder. For 

example smooth cayenne pineapples from Hawaii may enter the continental United States with 

pre-departure inspection by APHIS, and pineapples are a favored host for this mealybug (Miller 

& Miller, 2002). 
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Conclusion

APHIS believes that the phytosanitary measures proposed in this document will result in the 

effective removal of any potential quarantine pests associated with the importation of fresh izote

from Guatemala. Only one pest, the mealybug Dysmicoccus neobrevipes whose risk was rated 

medium, was identified by the pest risk assessment as following the pathway of fresh flowers of 

izote. Inspection is considered effective at finding external feeding pests and excluding infested 

shipments from entering commerce (Cavey, 2003; Wittenberg & Cock, 2001). The NPPO of 

Guatemala has agreed to inspect the izote for quarantine pests and issue a phytosanitary

certificate stating that they are free of pests.

Author

Walter P. Gould

Senior Risk Manager

Jose R. Hernandez

Senior Risk Manager

References:

Cavey, J.F. 2003. Mitigating introduction of invasive plant pests: the APHIS-PPQ Mission. 

From: Chapter 13, pp. 350-361 in Ruiz, G.M and J.T. Carlton. 2003. Invasive species: vectors 

and management strategies. Island Press, Washington, D.C. 518p.

Miller, G. L. and D. R. Miller. 2002. Dysmicoccus Ferris and similar genera (Hemiptera: 

Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) of the gulf state region including a description of a new species and 

new United States records. Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 104: 968-979. 

USDA. 2000. Guidelines for Pathway-Initiated Pest Risk Assessments, Version 5.02. USDAAPHIS, PPQ. Permits and Risk Assessment. Commodity Risk Analysis Branch. 30 pp.

USDA. 2012. Importation of fresh edible flowers of Izote (Yucca guatemalensis Baker) into the 

Continental United States from Guatemala. A Pathway-Initiated Pest Risk Assessment. USDA, 

APHIS, CPHST, PERAL, Raleigh, NC. 20pp.

Wittenberg, R. and M.J.W. Cock. 2001. Invasive Alien Species: A toolkit of best prevention and 

management practices. CABI publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon, UK. 228 pp.