On Dec. 5 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Agricultural Marketing Service is proposing to require that importers of certain potatoes, tomatoes and onions electronically file inspection certificates issued by non-federal and federal-state inspection services, it said (here). Currently the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the only non-federal or federal-state service authorized to inspect, so the change only affects CFIA certificates for now, AMS said. If an importer is unable to enter the CFIA inspection information electronically, the importer would be required to provide a copy of the certificate to AMS via email, mail or fax, the agency said. AMS is also proposing to amend the pistachio import regulations to provide for the electronic filing of aflatoxin test results, among other changes, it said. Comments are due Jan. 5.
On Dec. 2 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Agricultural Marketing Service is updating import reporting requirements and proposing changes to export requirements for certain commodities to allow for electronic filing, it said. In an interim final rule that takes effect Dec. 8 (here), AMS is amending its regulations on reporting of pistachio imports to remove references to paper filing, and updating other parts of its regulations to remove outdated provisions, it said. In a separate proposed rule (here), AMS is proposing to require shippers of apple and grape exports to enter an Export Form Certificate number or a USDA-defined exemption code into the Automated Export System (AES). The proposal would also define “shipper,” shift the current file retention requirement from carriers to shippers, and require shippers to provide, upon request, copies of the certificates to AMS, the agency said. Comments on the proposed rule are due Jan. 4. Comments on the interim rule on import reporting are due Feb. 3.
The Agricultural Marketing Service released guidance for the National Organic Program on classification of materials used in organic crop production. New final guidance NOP 5033 “details the procedures and decision trees for classifying materials used for organic crop production, livestock production, and handling,” AMS said (here). A second final guidance document, NOP 5034, “clarifies certain materials for use in organic crop production.” Both guidances are available in the NOP program manual (here).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Dec. 1 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables and flowers.
On Dec. 1 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Nov. 30 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables and flowers.
On Nov. 30 the Foreign Agricultural Service posted the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Nov. 29 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables and flowers.