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:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that it is banning imports of parts of banana and plantain plants from Venezuela due to detection of the plant pest Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical race 4. The prohibition, which takes effect July 19 and was announced in an amended Federal Order, does not apply to banana and plantain fruits, seeds, leaves, cut flowers or plants in tissue culture, APHIS said. Rather, the ban covers imports of Musa spp. and Ensete ventricosum plant parts including rooted plants, rooted and unrooted cuttings, roots, and rhizomes.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plant inspection stations (PIS) will on Aug. 7 begin the use of entry status notifications to "communicate directly with filers," APHIS announced July 7. Filers no longer will receive an automated "may proceed" message, instead getting a message such as "Data Under Review," "Hold Intact" and "Data Rejected," APHIS said. Only after the inspection process is completed will filers receive a "May Proceed" message, APHIS said.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: