The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announces the availability of three pest risk analyses that evaluate, respectively, the risks associated with the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh celery, arugula, and spinach from Colombia. Comments are due by October 25, 2010.
On August 23, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, with changes, an interim rule that amended the phytosanitary treatment regulations for cold treatment enclosures and procedures, including regulations for precooling temperatures and temperature recording devices, for treating fruits, vegetables, and other articles to prevent the introduction or dissemination of plant pests or noxious weeds into or through the U.S.
On August 23, 2010, FSIS updated its Labeling Compliance Policy Guide on Poultry Food Product Dating. This guidance document conveys current practices and clarifies the requirements of the regulations with regard to the appropriate use of pack dates and slaughter dates on poultry food products.
On August 20, 2010, APHIS updated its PPQ Export Program Manual. This is an operational manual for Authorized Certification Officials to enable them to inspect and issue Federal Export Certificates for plants and plant products. The Manual also provides information that helps exporters meet the plant quarantine import requirements of foreign countries.
The International Trade Administration issued its quarterly update to its annual list of foreign government subsidies on articles of cheese subject to an in-quota rate of duty that were imported during the period April 1 through June 30, 2010.
The Treasury Department has further targeted the financial network of al-Qai'da by designating Muhammad Abdallah Hasan Abu-al-Khayr, a key leader of the terrorist organization's finance section, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which freezes any assets al-Khayr has under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with him.
On August 23, 2010, APHIS updated its Miscellaneous and Processed Products PPQ Manual. The manual is used for regulating imported items that are processed and are not intended for propagation.
The Department of Energy has granted a nationwide limited waiver, effective August 6, 2010, of the Buy American requirements of section 1605 of the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 with respect to certain solar photo-voltaic (PV) equipment that will be used on eligible Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy- Recovery Act funded projects. This waiver expires on February 6, 2011.