# 2026-15857: Feds Ease Coffee Imports to Hawaii Over Pest Worries 2026-15857, Importation of Coffee Into Hawaii and Puerto Rico, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Agriculture Department, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published 2026-08-05, effective We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 5, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15857 - As of: 2026-08-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-15857 - Title: Importation of Coffee Into Hawaii and Puerto Rico - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Agriculture Department; Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Citation: 91 FR 50485 - Published: 2026-08-05 - Effective: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before October 5, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-10-05 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 0579-AE90 - Last updated: 2026-08-12 ## In one line Feds Ease Coffee Imports to Hawaii Over Pest Worries ## Summary We are proposing to amend the regulations regarding the importation of unroasted coffee and related articles into Hawaii and Puerto Rico by establishing a notice-based process for changes to the prohibitions on importing such articles. We would also broaden language regarding coffee pests. We are proposing these amendments because they would allow the Agency to more efficiently respond to market access requests as well as to emerging pest situations. These amendments would allow us to use a streamlined approach to update the importation conditions for unroasted coffee and related articles while continuing to protect plant health. ## Effects PRIA read - Faster approvals for green-coffee import requests: benefit, medium. APHIS would replace full rulemaking with a notice-based process to authorize unroasted coffee, coffee leaves, or empty sacks for importation into Hawaii or Puerto Rico. APHIS must publish a pest risk analysis for at least 60 days of public comment and then publish a Federal Register notice announci… - Broader pest standard: 'quarantine pests': benefit, low. The rule would remove references to two specific pests and replace them with the broader term "quarantine pest," defined as a pest not yet present or present but not widely distributed and being officially controlled. This lets APHIS analyze and respond to a wider set of pest risks when deciding wh… - Possible wider green-bean supply and lower blend prices: benefit, low. While the proposed rule does not itself allow new imports, APHIS says the streamlined process could make it easier in the future to import more foreign-grown green coffee into Hawaii and Puerto Rico. If imports expand, consumers of blended coffee products in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and elsewhere could… - ACIR becomes the import-requirements source: benefit, low. APHIS would point importers to the USDA Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database for the names, origins, and specific requirements for any articles authorized for import into Hawaii and Puerto Rico. ACIR entries must be consulted online or requested in hard copy by phone or email. - Agency expects limited small-business effects: mixed, low. APHIS states its initial regulatory flexibility analysis found no reason to expect this proposed rule would cause a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities, but the Agency says it lacks some data and is inviting comments on potential effects. ## Related documents - [2026-19532](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19532): Amendments To Import Requirements for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, 2026-09-24 - [2025-04813](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-04813): Horse Protection Amendments; Further Delay of Effective Date, and Request for Comment, 2025-03-21 - [2025-01836](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-01836): Horse Protection Amendments; Postponement of Regulations, 2025-01-28 - [2026-20631](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20631): Notice of Decision To Deregulate Chrysanthemum White Rust and the Importation of Chrysanthemum spp. Cuttings, and In Vitro Plantlets, and S…, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20630](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20630): Cut Flowers Regulations; Removal of Chrysanthemum White Rust-Related Provisions, 2026-10-08 - [2026-19237](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19237): Bayer U.S.-Crop Science: Availability of a Petition for a Determination of Nonregulated Status and Draft Plant Pest Risk Assessment for Her…, 2026-09-21 ## Sources - [2026-15857 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/05/2026-15857/importation-of-coffee-into-hawaii-and-puerto-rico) - [2026-15857 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-05/pdf/2026-15857.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-15845, National Poultry Improvement Plan and Auxiliary Provisions](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15845) - [Next: 2026-15867, OCC Rules Regarding the Availability of OCC Information](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15867) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15857 (as of 2026-08-12).