The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow the importation of fresh potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from Mexico into the U.S., it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Sept. 27. The potatoes would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach employing a combination of mitigation measures to prevent the introduction and dissemination of plant pests into the U.S., it said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the import of horses, ruminants, swine, and dogs from regions of the world where screwworm is considered to exist, it said in a Federal Register notice scheduled for Sept. 24. APHIS estimates 1,931 information collection responses at 0.5 hours each. Comments are due by Nov. 24 via http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0065-0001. Further information: Ellen Buck, 301-851-3361.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 19 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.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of litchi into the continental U.S., except for Florida, it said in a final rule set for publication in the Sept. 23 Federal Register. To qualify, the litchi will have to be irradiated. If irradiated outside the U.S., the fruit must be inspected by APHIS and the Australian government. If irradiated upon arrival in the U.S., inspection by only the Australian government will be sufficient, APHIS said. In either case, the litchi must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from Australia. The final rule is effective Oct. 23.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 18 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.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Sept. 19 said it is deregulating eight more pests at the port of entry, after the National Plant Board agreed with its proposals to change their status to non-actionable. The eight deregulated pests include (pests marked by an asterisk are still quarantine pests in Hawaii and/or territories):
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 17 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.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of mangoes from Australia into the continental U.S. beginning on Oct. 21. To qualify, producers will have to mitigate against Cytosphaera mangiferae, and mangoes from Australia will also have to be inspected for the fungus. Imported fruit will additionally have to be irradiated to counteract the risk of fruit flies and mango seed weevil. Mangoes from Australia will only qualify if they are imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Australian government.
International Trade Today is providing readers with some of the top stories for Sept. 9-13 in case they were missed.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 6-15 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.