On July 28, 2010, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service posted an upgraded version of its Lacey Act Declaration form (the “Plant and Plant Product Declaration Form”, PPQ Form 505).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to define “common cultivar” and “common food crop”, which are among the categorical exemptions to the Lacey Act Amendments requirements.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking and requests comments on addition or reduction to the list of select agents and toxins in its regulations that have the potential to pose a severe threat to animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products, and on potential reorganization of the list, pursuant to its biennial review under the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002. Comments are due by August 30, 2010.
On July 26, 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.
On July 26, 2010, APHIS updated its Miscellaneous and Processed Products PPQ Manual. The manual is used for regulating imported items that are processed and are not intended for propagation.
On July 26, 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 July 21, 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 has posted a list of current in-progress Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) risk analyses as of July 8, 2010, which reflects all import requests currently being evaluated by APHIS-PPQ that meet the requirements in 7 CFR 319.5. The risk analyses and rulemaking or other policy documents for each issue on this list may be in any stage of preparation, review, or clearance, but have not yet been released publicly.
On July 19, 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 Office of Management and Budget has approved the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's proposed rule to establish definitions for the terms “common cultivar” (except trees) and “common food crop”, which are among the categorical exemptions to the Lacey Act Amendments requirements.