The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing changes to import conditions for table grapes from Chile, it said in a notice released Oct. 14. Under the changes, table grapes from Chile could be imported under a systems approach or using irradiation treatment for the European grapevine moth and Chilean false red mite if they are from areas with a very low prevalence of those pests. Current mitigation measures for the Medfly would remain unchanged. “The systems approach would provide an alternative to the current import requirement of mandatory treatment with methyl bromide fumigation,” APHIS said in an emailed update. Comments are due Dec. 16.
Trade participants in the 21st Century Customs Framework “focus group” are set to meet with CBP and other government officials Oct. 17 and 18 to discuss a series of proposed statutory changes developed over recent weeks that aim to incorporate facilitation measures into upcoming customs modernization legislation.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is loosening requirements on importation of bovines and bovine products from Ireland, it said in a notice. APHIS will reclassify Ireland as having negligible risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, concurring with recommendations recently issued by the World Organization for Animal Health, the agency said. Ireland had previously been classified as undetermined for BSE risk, and imports of bovines and bovine products from the country were prohibited.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow importation of pummelo fruit from Vietnam into the U.S., subject to certain phytosanitary requirements, it said in a notice released Oct. 3. Imports may be authorized beginning Oct. 4, APHIS said.
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The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa, it said in a notice released Sept. 26. Importation will be subject to "one or more designated phytosanitary measures ... to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds,” APHIS said. Imports may be authorized beginning Sept. 27.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of non-precleared sand pears from South Korea into all U.S. ports, it said in a notice released Sept. 26. Previously, non-precleared sand pears from the country could be imported only into the Port of Honolulu, and only fruit imported under an APHIS preclearance program was allowed into all ports (see 2103120030). The non-precleared sand pears will be subject to the import conditions of the “systems approach” currently required for precleared fruit. Imports may be authorized at all U.S. ports beginning Sept. 27, APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is beginning its annual certification visits for greenhouse facilities that wish to export Pelargonium spp. unrooted plant cuttings, it said Sept. 21. The certifications are required for any shipments from countries where Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2 is known to occur, APHIS said. The agency plans to complete inspections by March 1, 2023, for facilities shipping during the 2022-23 season, it said. Those interested in scheduling a certification visit should send official correspondence from the National Plant Protection Organization of the exporting country to APHIS by Oct. 15, APHIS said.
CBP and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program will on Sept. 26 begin risk-based sampling (RBS) for banana and plantain shipments at U.S. ports of entry, APHIS said. “There are no changes to the required entry paperwork; however, PPQ and CBP recommend that trade entities file entry paperwork prior to arrival if possible and include APHIS Core Message Set data to ensure their shipments are processed according to RBS procedures,” APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service hopes to begin implementation of its seventh and penultimate phase of Lacey Act declaration requirements toward the end of 2023, the agency’s Erin Otto said Sept. 19, speaking at a National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America conference in Washington. Otto said APHIS hopes to complete phase seven implementation in the summer of 2024, at which point the agency will pivot to the final phase eight.