The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will host seven courses this summer designed to teach foreign agricultural officials about animal and plant health safeguarding practices in the U.S. and help them develop science-based regulatory systems to prevent the introduction and establishment of harmful pests and diseases, it said. By helping developing countries establish regulatory frameworks based on sound science and formal protocols, APHIS said it's helping facilitate export opportunities for U.S. producers. The courses include: Risk Analysis for Animal Health; Emergency Poultry Disease Response; Diagnostic Laboratory Network Systems; Veterinary Epidemiology; International Transboundary Animal Disease Control; Plant Health Systems Analysis; and Plant Health Pest Risk Assessment. Further information: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/international_safeguarding/index.shtml.

The Department of Agriculture amended the geographical area of the China/Hong Kong Region to include Macau for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation’s Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2012. All other terms and conditions previously announced remain the same, said USDA. The previous Foreign Agricultural Service announcement pertinent to this allocation is PR 0063-12.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 23 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.

On July 23 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

On July 20 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 20 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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 19 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 revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for July 13-19:

On July 19 the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 18 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.