The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that it is necessary to prohibit, effective November 10, 2010, the importation of Actinidia spp. plants for planting (including pollen but excluding fruit and seed), as it is host for a bacterial canker of kiwi fruit. A pest risk analysis needs to be completed and appropriate mitigation measures must be taken. Note that kiwis are Actinidia deliciosa. Email documents@brokerpower.com for copy of memo.
On November 10, 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 12, 2010, APHIS updated its Seeds Not for Planting Manual. The manual is used for regulating importations of unprocessed seeds that are imported for consumption and are not intended for planting.
On November 12, 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 15, 2010, APHIS updated its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Animal Product Manual. This Manual provides the background, procedures, and regulatory actions to enforce the regulations governing the import and export of animals, animal products, and animal by-products.
The following are details of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s final rule, effective December 10, 2010, to amend its regulations governing the importation and interstate movement of noxious weeds.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective December 1, 2010, which will amend the regulations governing the importation of certain animals and animal products by adding the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina to the list of regions APHIS recognizes as free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), rinderpest, swine vesicular disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever. APHIS is also adding Santa Catarina to the list of regions that are subject to certain import restrictions on meat and meat products because of their proximity to or trading relationships with rinderpest- or FMD-affected countries.
The Government Accountability Office has issued a report entitled “Live Animal Imports: Agencies Need Better Collaboration to Reduce the Risk of Animal-Related Diseases” in which it found that statutory and regulatory framework for live animal imports has gaps that could allow the introduction of diseases into the U.S.
On November 9, 2010, the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) met in Washington, DC to discuss a variety of trade issues.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a final rule, effective December 10, 2010, which amends the regulations governing the importation and interstate movement of noxious weeds by adding definitions of terms used in the regulations, adding details regarding the process of applying for the permits used to import or move noxious weeds, adding a requirement for the treatment of niger seed, and adding provisions for petitioning to add a taxon to or remove a taxon from the noxious weed lists. APHIS is also adding seven taxa to the list of terrestrial noxious weeds and to the list of seeds with no tolerances applicable to their introduction.