A timber conglomerate backed by a prominent Chinese national is illegally extracting timber from Gabon and the Republic of the Congo, watchdog group Environmental Investigation Agency said in a March 25 news release. The Dejia Group is alleged to have supplied timber to the U.S. and "other countries where the importation of illegally sourced timber is a crime, including France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Greece," the EIA said. U.S. authorities are currently investigating possible Lacey Act violations related to the use of veneers from Evergreen Hardwoods Inc. (see 1903190027), which EIA said is a major importer of Dejia Group timber. “The Dejia-Evergreen case demonstrates the need for US authorities to routinely check due diligence systems, and to vigorously enforce the Lacey Act,” said Lisa Handy, director of EIA’s Forest Campaign. “Otherwise, illegal timber will continue to flow into the US, and American consumers will remain unwitting supporters of devastating forest crime.” The EU should consider all timber products from the Republic of the Congo and Gabon high risk under the EU Timber Regulations, EIA said in recommendations based on the report.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is adding China to its list of regions subject to import restrictions on pork and pork products because they are affected by African swine fever, it said. China reported an outbreak of the swine disease in August 2018. "As a result, pork and pork products, including casings, from China are subject to APHIS import restrictions designed to mitigate the risk of ASF introduction into the United States," the notice said. Restrictions take effect retroactively to Aug. 6, 2018.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is moving toward allowing imports of jujube fruit from China. The agency issued a draft pest risk analysis that recommended imports of jujube be allowed, with certain conditions including an import permit, phytosanitary certificate from the Chinese government, registration of production locations and packinghouses, and port of entry inspections, among other things. Comments on the draft pest risk analysis are due May 24.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on March 21 announced that Special Import Quota #22 for upland cotton will be established on March 28, allowing importation of 12,665,348 kilograms (58,171 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the last quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than June 25, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by Sept. 23, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period November 2018 through January 2019, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing minor revisions to its regulations on importation of live dogs, in a broader proposed rule amending Animal Welfare Act licensing provisions in general. The agency would clarify language in its dog import licensing and certification regulations to clarify that dogs intended for resale for research purposes, or dogs intended for resale following veterinary treatment, must be imported with an import permit and accompanying certifications. APHIS would also replace references to the “continental United States or Hawaii” with the word “States,” which is defined elsewhere as “a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or any other territory or possession of the United States.” That’s intended to clarify that no import permit is required when transporting dogs within the U.S., APHIS said. Comments are due May 21.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has preliminarily found the state of Baja California, Mexico, free of fever ticks, and also preliminarily found Singapore free from foot-and-mouth disease. If it confirms these findings, certain restrictions on importation of ruminants from Baja California and on live ruminants and swine from Singapore may be lifted. Comments on each evaluation are due May 20.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on March 14 announced that Special Import Quota #21 for upland cotton will be established on March 21, allowing importation of 12,665,348 kilograms (58,171 bales) of upland cotton, an increase from the 12,619,815 kilograms (57,962 bales) allowed in the last quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than June 18, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by Sept. 16, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period November 2018 through January 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is holding a vote on whether to continue the national Christmas tree promotion order and its associated assessments on importers, it said. Only importers and domestic producers of more than 500 trees during the period Sept. 1, 2018, through March 15, 2019, are eligible to vote in the referendum. Under the promotion order, which took effect in 2014 (see 14040418), importers above that threshold must pay an assessment of $0.15 per tree on imports of Christmas trees. The fees fund efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct research and promotion activities. The referendum will be conducted by mailed ballot beginning April 22, with votes due no later than May 17.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on March 7 announced that Special Import Quota #20 for upland cotton will be established on March 14, allowing importation of 12,619,815 kilograms (57,962 bales) of upland cotton, unchanged from the last quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than June 11, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by Sept. 9, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period October 2018 through December 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Feb. 28 announced that Special Import Quota #19 for upland cotton will be established on March 7, allowing importation of 12,619,815 kilograms (57,962 bales) of upland cotton, unchanged from the last quota period. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than June 4, 2019, and entered into the U.S. by Sept. 2, 2019. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period October 2018 through December 2018, the most recent three months for which data is available.