The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of leaves and stems of rosemary and leaves and stems of tarragon from Ethiopia into the continental U.S., it said in a notice April 4. An agency pest risk analysis found “the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds” with the importation of the herbs, APHIS said. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports into the U.S., subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency. Comments will be accepted through June 3.
A ban on imports of some types of cherries and other fruits from Quebec recently went into effect, after a detection of the European cherry fruit fly in the province resulted in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service expanding a ban already in place for Ontario. Effective April 1, APHIS is prohibiting entry of imports from Quebec of black cherry (Prunus serotina), mahaleb cherry (P. mahaleb), sour cherry (P. cerasus), sweet cherry (P. avium), and wild Prunus spp. and Lonicera spp. fruits. Imports of those fruits from Ontario have been banned since 2017 for the same reason (see 1705240011).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of fresh Hass avocado fruit from Guatemala, it said in a notice released March 26. An agency pest risk analysis found “the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds” with the importation of Guatemalan avocados, APHIS said. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports into the U.S., subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency. Comments will be accepted through May 28.
The Senate passed a resolution that could undo the USDA's approval of imported Paraguayan beef, if the House also votes to end these imports by a veto-proof margin.
The White House told the Senate that it strongly opposes an effort to undo the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's finding that fresh beef imports from Paraguay are safe.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on March 1 announced a ban on imports of live swine, swine germoplasm and unprocessed pork products and byproducts from Albania, after detecting African swine fever in the country. The announcement follows a similar ban announced in January on swine and pork from neighboring Montenegro (see 2401240039).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of fresh ugu leaves from Nigeria, it said in a notice. An agency pest risk analysis found “the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds,” APHIS said. Imports may be authorized beginning Feb. 26, it said.
Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, announced Feb. 21 that he has introduced legislation to prohibit "dangerous" fresh beef imports from Paraguay.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Jan. 22 announced a ban on imports of live swine, swine germoplasm and unprocessed pork products and byproducts from Montenegro, after detecting African swine fever in the country. Effective Jan. 14, imports of line swine and swine germoplasm is prohibited, APHIS said. Unprocessed pork products and byproducts also won’t be permitted to enter, though they may be imported in some cases if consigned to a USDA-approved establishment, APHIS said. Processed pork products and byproducts must be accompanied by an “import permit and/or government certification or both confirming that the products were treated according to APHIS requirements,” it said. “These restrictions will be updated as additional epidemiological information is obtained,” APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of fresh bell peppers to resume, after prohibiting them in December 2022 based on the detections of the Mediterranean fruit fly, APHIS said in an amended federal order issued Jan. 19. “Effective immediately,” bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) may be imported from Spain “under the import requirements currently listed in the Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements (ACIR) database” as well as “corrective actions” listed in the amended federal order, including reinforcing and strengthening Spanish greenhouses and inspections following severe weather. APHIS said tears in the plastic of Spanish greenhouses allowed the pests to contaminate the shipments and caused the detections that led to the ban.