The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective December 28, 2010, which amends the regulations governing the importation of fruits and vegetables to provide for the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico into Puerto Rico under the same systems approach currently required for the importation of Hass avocados into all States of the United States from Michoacán, Mexico. In addition, APHIS is amending the regulations to provide for the Mexican national plant protection organization to use an approved designee to inspect avocados for export, etc.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to amend the regulations governing the importation of clementines from Spain by removing from the regulations the number of clementines per consignment intended for export to the U.S. that are required to be sampled by APHIS inspectors. In place of this number, APHIS proposes to state in the regulations that the number to be sampled will be determined by the agency. Comments are due by February 28, 2011.
On December 22, 2010, APHIS updated the Manual for Agricultural Clearance. The manual provides CBP personnel working at airport and maritime locations with the guidelines, directions, and policy for clearing carriers and passengers/crew and controlling garbage and cargo.
On December 22, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables.
On December 17, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Treatment Manual. This Manual serves as an operational guide for selecting and conducting quarantine treatments. The procedures and treatment schedules in this manual are administratively authorized for use by APHIS to prevent the movement of agricultural pests into or within the United States. Listed treatments include chemical treatments such as fumigation with methyl bromide, and nonchemical treatments with heat, cold, or irradiation.
On December 17, 2011, APHIS updated its Plant Mexican Border Job Aid PPQ Manual. (Replaces the Mexican Border Manual) This manual serves as a guide for authorized Federal officers at ports of entry along the Mexican border. Covers regulatory action to take for noncommercial importations originating in Mexico.
On December 20, 2010, APHIS updated its Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Import PPQ Manual. The manual lists by country fruits and vegetables that are admissible into the United States. It includes a description of methods for sampling and inspecting selected fruits and vegetables. It also contains pictorial identification guides, and a glossary for common and scientific names of fruits and vegetables.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a frequently asked questions document to its website on user fees.
The Federal Register has published the fall 2010 semi-annual regulatory agendas for Federal government agencies.
At the 34th Annual Conference of the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) held in October 2010, speaker Brian Zak from Canada stated that the U.S. and Canada were in the discussion stages of harmonizing their implementation of International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 15 (Guidelines for Regulating Wood Packaging Material in International Trade). In addition, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was finalizing a draft ISPM on the Global Movement of Forest Products. (See ITT's Online Archives or 12/02/10 news, 10120215, for BP summary of of APHIS proposed rule to eliminate the ISPM 15 exemption for Canada WPM.)