New Plant Protection and Quarantine head Osama El-Lissy pledged a thorough review of the Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection program, among other trade-related initiatives, in an Aug. 20 outline of PPQ priorities for 2013 and 2014. El-Lissy also pledged more cooperation between PPQ, an agency within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and CBP, as well as with foreign countries like Mexico and Canada.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is updating language on two permits to clarify Lacey Act declaration requirements for plant and timber importers. The agency is adding permit condition language to PPQ Form 585 (Permit to Import Timber or Timber Products) and PPQ Form 621 (Protected Plant Permit to Engage in the Business of Importing, Exporting or Re-exporting Terrestrial Plants or Plant Products that are Protected). The forms will now include information about the requirement to submit a Lacey Act Plant and Plant Product Declaration (PPQ Form 505) when importing applicable commodities into the U.S., APHIS said. A list of commodities that currently require a Lacey Act declaration is (here).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow imports of cape gooseberry from Colombia, subject to certain conditions. Requirements would include that the fruits be sourced from the Bogota Savannah and the neighboring municipalities above 2,200 meters in the Departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca, an area that has found to be free of medfly. Also, boxes would have to be labeled prior to shipping, and the cape gooseberry would have to be imported in commercial consignments and come with a phytosanitary certificate from the Colombian government. Comments on the proposal are due by Oct. 15.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is allowing imports of oranges and tangerines from Egypt effective Aug. 16, it said in a Federal Register notice set to be published on that date. To qualify, the citrus fruits will have to be treated for the peach fruit fly and the Mediterranean fruit fly, and must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Egyptian government, APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Aug. 13 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 released a joint U.S.-Canadian plan aimed at “reinvigoration” of the North American Perimeter Approach (NAPA) initiative for plants on Aug. 9. The U.S. and Canada are attempting to align their phytosanitary import requirements “to the extent possible” through the NAPA initiative. Under the new plan, which is dated July 3, APHIS and its Canadian counterpart, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, will develop a new NAPA framework for cooperation, and develop pilot programs on Chrysanthemum White Rust (CWR) and a revised Greenhouse Certification Program. APHIS is asking for comments by Sept. 27.
The government of Canada issued the following trade-related notices for Aug. 12 (Note that some may also be given separate headlines.)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Aug. 9 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.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it will allow imports of fresh pitaya and pomegranates from Mexico into the continental U.S, effective Aug. 13. To qualify, the fruits must be irradiated, and can only be imported in commercial consignments. They will also be subject to inspection at the port of entry.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Aug. 8 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.