The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a commodity import evaluation document (CIED) that evaluates the phytosanitary measures under which garlic may be imported into the continental U.S. from the European Union and several other countries. Based on the CIED, APHIS believes that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures other than treatment will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds. Comments are due by May 20, 2011.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated the following PPQ electronic manuals as of March 17, 2011 (since March 10, 2011):
On March 17, 2011, the Senate passed H.J. Res. 48, a continuing resolution (CR) which would fund the federal government at current rates for three weeks -- through April 8, 2011 -- while cutting $6 billion in non-security discretionary spending. The President is expected to sign H.J. Res. 48 before the current CR expires on March 18, 2011. The House passed H.J. Res. 48 on March 15, 2011.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation into the continental U.S. of figs and pomegranates from Chile, subject to a systems approach under which the fruit would have to be grown in a place of production that is registered with the Government of Chile and certified as having a low prevalence of Brevipalpus chilensis, among other things. Comments are due by May 16, 2011.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow, under certain conditions, the importation into the U.S. of commercial consignments of tomatoes with stems from Korea. The conditions include requirements for pest exclusion at the production site, fruit fly trapping inside and outside the production site, and pest-excluding packinghouse procedures. The tomatoes would also be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Korea, among other things. Comments are due by May 16, 2011.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend the regulations governing the importation of plants and plant products to add Bromeliad plants of the genera Aechmea, Cryptanthus, Guzmania, Hohenbergia, Neoregelia, Tillandsia, and Vriesea from Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands to the list of plants that may be imported into the U.S. in an approved growing medium, subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements. Comments are due by May 16, 2011.
This notice is a reminder that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is requesting comments from the public by April 14, 2011 to assist in its review of the Lacey Act Declaration requirements for imported plants and plant products. Once this review is completed, APHIS will submit a report to Congress detailing its results and is authorized to issue certain regulations.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated the following PPQ electronic manuals as of March 10, 2011 (since March 3, 2011):
Broker Power is providing readers with some of the top stories for February 28 -- March 4, 2011 in case they were missed last week.
The Government Accountability Office has issued its first annual report to Congress identifying federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives, either within departments or government-wide, which have duplicative goals or activities.