On November 18, 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.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is advising the public of our decision to begin issuing permits, effective November 23, 2010, for the importation into the continental U.S. of wall rocket leaves from the United Kingdom. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, APHIS believes 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 via the importation of wall rocket leaves from the United Kingdom.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has posted an October 14, 2010 list of more than 100 "in-progress" PPQ (Plant Protection and Quarantine) Risk Analyses for imported fruits, vegetables, and herbs from various countries.
According to APHIS officials, including those that attended the November 9, 2010 COAC meeting, the draft report to Congress on the 2008 Lacey Act Amendments (including the declaration for imported plants and plant products1) is undergoing interagency review. As of early November, the draft was awaiting Department of Justice (DOJ) comments.
On November 18, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Nursery Stock Restrictions Manual. This Manual summarizes the entry status of regulated plant materials capable of and intended for propagation.
On November 18, 2010, APHIS updated its Postentry Quarantine PPQ Manual for State Inspectors. This manual covers procedures for conducting PEQ tasks beginning with the request to approve a growing site and ending with the release or refusal of the plant material.
On November 18, 2010, APHIS updated its Cut Flowers and Greenery Import Manual. The manual provides the background, procedures, and reference tables for regulating the fresh, cut portion of the plant when it is imported for decoration or ornamentation, and for protecting plants that are threatened with extinction due to trade in those plants or their derivatives.
On November 17, 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 November 17, 2010, APHIS updated its International Animal Product Export Regulations: Animal Products to Canada. This Regulation is on Dairy Materials (for Human Consumption) Exported to Canada for Eventual Export to the European Union.
On November 17, 2010, APHIS updated its PPQ Export Program Manual. This is an operational manual for Authorized Certification Officials to enable them to inspect and issue Federal Export Certificates for plants and plant products. The Manual also provides information that helps exporters meet the plant quarantine import requirements of foreign countries.