On Aug. 2 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Food Safety and Inspection Service said the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is inviting member countries and observer organizations to participate in the following six electronic working groups:

The Agricultural Marketing Service issued a final rule amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for organic products by: (1) extending the expiration date for use of tetracycline in organic crop production to control fire blight in apples and pears until Oct. 21, 2014; and (2) adding two substances, formic acid and attapulgite, along with any restrictive annotations, for use in organic livestock production and organic processing, respectively. AMS said these changes are in response to recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on Oct. 28, 2010, and April 29, 2011.

On Aug. 1 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails Aug. 1 announcing changes to some 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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it worked with federal, international and industry partners to arrange for the release of 209 shipments of American products valued at more than $39 million in 2012. The goods had been detained at foreign ports of entry pending resolution of various animal and plant health questions, APHIS said, and APHIS has helped to open or maintain more than $51 million in overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products. When American shipments are detained at foreign ports of entry, APHIS said it and other USDA officials negotiate with international officials to resolve the issue. APHIS launched a new website that will contain trade related information and help exporters find information on APHIS's services (here).

The Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a public notice saying Japan is free of foot-and-mouth disease, so importing whole cuts of boneless beef from Japan may resume. Other ruminant meat and meat byproducts, as well as fresh pork, live ruminants, and live swine, remain prohibited due to Japan's status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, classical swine fever, and swine vesicular disease, it said. The action is effective Aug. 17.

On July 31 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 31 announcing changes to some 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.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) invites member countries and observer organizations to participate in the following eight electronic working groups: