For the past couple of years, Big Island coffee has been ravaged by the coffee borer beetle. 

In response to the scourge, Hawaii’s ag department put in place an emergency quarantine last year, requiring that all coffee exiting the island be treated. 

The department planned to have a permanent rule quarantining the coffee in place by early December, when the emergency measure expired. 

However, the date was missed, The Hawaii-Tribue reports. The ag department is currently holding meetings on the Big Island to review the proposed rules.