CBP has issued an updated version of its Frequently Asked Questions regarding the enforcement of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's wood packaging material (WPM) regulations. See future issue of ITT for complete details.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated the following PPQ electronic manuals as of April 7, 2011 (since March 31, 2011):
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an order which revises and replaces a January 2009 order for two harmful plant pests. Among other things, APHIS is changing the requirements for importation of plants for planting from the European Union. because the status and distribution of the Citrus Longhorned Beetle and Asian Longhorned Beetle in the EU is not sufficiently known. APHIS' notice is available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is soliciting letters of interest from entities subject to the regulations governing the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) organisms in 7 CFR Part 340 to participate in a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Pilot Project. The pilot project will focus only on NEPA analyses and documents associated with petitions for nonregulated status for GE organisms. Letters of interest may be submitted through April 8, 2013.
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for March 28-April 1, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to relieve certain restrictions regarding the movement of fresh Hass variety avocados. Specifically, APHIS proposes to amend its domestic regulations to provide for the interstate movement of Hass avocados from the Mediterranean fruit fly quarantined areas in the U.S. with a certificate if the fruit is safeguarded after harvest, in accordance with specific measures. APHIS also proposes to amend its foreign quarantine regulations to remove trapping requirements for: (i) the Mediterranean fruit fly for Hass avocados imported from the State of Michoacan, Mexico; (ii) treatment or origin from an area free of Mediterranean fruit fly for Hass avocados imported from Peru; and (iii) trapping or origin from an area free of South American fruit fly for Hass avocados imported from Peru. Comments are due by May 4, 2011.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective May 4, 2011, to amend the live animal export regulations by removing the list of designated ports of embarkation and their associated export inspection facilities. As a result of the final rule, those ports and facilities will be listed on the Internet rather than in the regulations, enabling APHIS to amend the list, when necessary, in a timelier manner.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is advising the public of its decision, effective April 4, 2011, to begin issuing permits for the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh figs from Chile, based on the findings of a pest risk analysis that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated the following PPQ electronic manuals as of March 31, 2011 (since March 24, 2011):
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is advising the public that it is adding new approved phytosanitary treatment schedules to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual for certain species of citrus fruit imported from Australia into the U.S. to continue to prevent the introduction or interstate movement of quarantine pests.