Updated ACE Agency Tariff Code AQX is now available for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, CBP said in a CSMS message Sept. 8. The flag is available in the certification environment. Starting Sept. 11, the AQX code will begin to be assigned to HTS codes in the production environment, the message said. The flag for this entry will be given a "warning" severity, meaning that you can still file a new entry even if there is no disclaim code related to the flag. Disclaim codes A and B will be usable with the AQX flag, the message said. Filers who submit an entry with HTS flagged AQX without APHIS data or a disclaim will receive the following message: PU2 – DATA MSNG ON HTS – NO ACTN RQD AQX. Questions about the APHIS Core Message Set filing can be sent to ace.itds@usda.gov or addressed by the APHIS help desk at 1-833-481-2102 or the APHIS website.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is restricting imports from Belarus of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, as well as “certain fresh poultry products,” as a result of the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the country. Effective Aug. 14, imports of processed avian products and byproducts from or transiting Belarus, imported as cargo, will require an APHIS permit or government certification of treatment. Imports of fresh, unprocessed eggs and egg products are prohibited unless they are consigned from the port of arrival directly to an APHIS-approved breaking and pasteurization facility, APHIS said. Unprocessed avian products and byproducts originating from or transiting Belarus won't be permitted to enter the U.S., APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to recognize the Tuscany and Umbria regions of Italy as free of swine vesicular disease, it said in a notice released Aug. 22. If these determinations are finalized, APHIS may loosen restrictions on the importation of pork and pork products from Tuscany and Umbria. Comments are due by Oct. 23.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of fresh table beet root from the U.K., it said in a notice released Aug. 22. 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. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports into the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency. Comments will be accepted through Oct. 23.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced it will hold a series of webinars in September to discuss recently proposed large increases to agriculture quarantine and inspection (AQI) fees (see 2308100026). Four webinars on Sept. 12 and 13 will address the proposed changes to fees for commercial air, truck, ocean and rail cargo. All will be recorded for those who can’t attend the live session, APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking public comments on an information collection involving import restrictions for animals that could introduce bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the U.S. APHIS said it’s looking to renew the information collection, which outlines restrictions on imports of certain animals, birds, poultry, meat and other animal products and byproducts to “prevent the introduction of various animal diseases,” including BSE, a chronic degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of cattle. The agency’s regulations place “specific conditions” on these imports, including various certifications, import certificates, permits, recordkeeping requirements and more. Comments are due Oct. 10.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service this week proposed updates and amendments to its user fee regulations under its agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) program. The agency is proposing increases to its fees for certain AQI services provided in connection with certain cargo and commercial vessels, railroad cars, trucks and aircraft arriving at U.S. ports. It would also adjust the caps on prepaid fees associated with commercial trucks and railroad cars, remove certain fee exemptions “that are no longer justifiable based upon pathway analyses of risk” and restructure the treatment monitoring fee, among other fee changes. Comments are due Oct. 10.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking comments on an information collection involving import regulations for bees and "related articles," the agency said in a notice. The regulations cover applications for a permit, packaging and labeling requirements, notices of arrival for shipments from approved regions, port of entry inspections, recordkeeping requirements and more. Comments are due Oct. 3.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's new automated message process for plants, vegetables and fruit imports (see 230707001) will help importers know more quickly if they have submitted a species or subspecies that doesn't exist, and, if accurate data is submitted ahead of arrival, should help cargo get released more quickly.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: