The Food Safety Inspection Service's Import Permit Guide for Products with Small Amounts of Meat and Poultry, issued in April 2009, is available in the following languages, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The Guide details the requirement that importers of FSIS-exempt food products (e.g. dry soup mixes, bouillion cubes) that contain small amounts (less than 2%) of meat or poultry that comes from an animal disease country will not be granted a new (or renewed) APHIS import permit unless FSIS makes a determination that the meat or poultry ingredient is from an approved source.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announces meetings in Madison, WI, Atlanta, GA, and Pasco, WA, to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to offer their input on the new framework being developed for animal disease traceability. The meetings will be held on August 18, 20, and 24, 2010, respectively.
On August 4, 2010, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service published a proposed rule to define “common cultivar” and “common food crop”, which are among the categorical exemptions to the requirements of the Lacey Act, as amended (Act).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is advising the public that it is adding new approved phytosanitary treatment schedules to the Plant Protection and Quarantine Treatment Manual for sweet cherries imported from Australia into the U.S. APHIS is also adding to the treatment manual a new approved irradiation dose for Mediterranean fruit fly of 100 gray.
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 exemptions1 to requirements of the Lacey Act, as amended (Act).
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
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.