The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it worked with federal, international and industry partners to arrange for the release of 209 shipments of American products valued at more than $39 million in 2012. The goods had been detained at foreign ports of entry pending resolution of various animal and plant health questions, APHIS said, and APHIS has helped to open or maintain more than $51 million in overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products. When American shipments are detained at foreign ports of entry, APHIS said it and other USDA officials negotiate with international officials to resolve the issue. APHIS launched a new website that will contain trade related information and help exporters find information on APHIS's services (here).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 31 announcing changes to some 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 Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued a public notice saying Japan is free of foot-and-mouth disease, so importing whole cuts of boneless beef from Japan may resume. Other ruminant meat and meat byproducts, as well as fresh pork, live ruminants, and live swine, remain prohibited due to Japan's status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, classical swine fever, and swine vesicular disease, it said. The action is effective Aug. 17.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 23 announcing changes to some 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 announced in an email, sent July 30, that on July 18 it postponed the use of risk-based sampling (RBS) procedures on shipments of plants for planting at plant inspection stations (PIS) after only two days of implementation. PIS managers were instructed to return to the use of traditional sampling methods until further notice, it said.
The Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service issued a final rule to amend the regulations that govern the import of animals and animal products by consolidating the list of factors APHIS considers when evaluating the animal health status of a foreign region from 11 factors to 8 factors, and by setting out new factors APHIS will consider when evaluating a region as historically free of a specific disease. APHIS made no changes to its Dec. 28, 2011 proposed rule. This final rule is effective Aug. 27.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 23 announcing changes to some 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 host seven courses this summer designed to teach foreign agricultural officials about animal and plant health safeguarding practices in the U.S. and help them develop science-based regulatory systems to prevent the introduction and establishment of harmful pests and diseases, it said. By helping developing countries establish regulatory frameworks based on sound science and formal protocols, APHIS said it's helping facilitate export opportunities for U.S. producers. The courses include: Risk Analysis for Animal Health; Emergency Poultry Disease Response; Diagnostic Laboratory Network Systems; Veterinary Epidemiology; International Transboundary Animal Disease Control; Plant Health Systems Analysis; and Plant Health Pest Risk Assessment. Further information: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/international_safeguarding/index.shtml.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 20 announcing changes to some 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 issued emails July 19 announcing changes to some 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.