The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to amend its regulations on imports of equines, it said. Changes would include increasing the number of days horses exported from regions free from contagious equine metritis (CEM) are allowed to spend in CEM-affected regions before re-entering the U.S. without testing from 60 to 90 days, and new requirements for an import permit for horses transiting through CEM-affected regions. Comments are due Jan. 28.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow importation of mangoes from Colombia into the United States, it said in a notice released Nov. 19. Conditions include a hot water or irradiation treatment and inspections. Shipments must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the Colombian government. APHIS said imports of mangoes from Colombia may be authorized beginning Nov. 22.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is allowing imports of pummelo from Thailand, subject to certain conditions, it said. The citrus fruit will be subject to a systems approach that would include irradiation treatment, packinghouse processing requirements and port of entry inspections. It also has to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Thai government. Pummelo from Thailand may be authorized for importation after Nov. 10, APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service loosened conditions for imports of melons from Japan, it said in a notice released Nov. 5. The agency will allow imports of melons with stems into the entire U.S., it said. Previously, fresh melon fruit with stems was authorized for import only into Hawaii, and fresh cantaloupe and honeydew melons with stems were allowed to be imported only into Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands from certain Japanese regions. Imports may be authorized into all U.S ports beginning Nov. 8, APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to loosen import requirements for plums from Chile to allow entry of non-irradiated fruit, it said in a notice released Nov. 2. Following detection of the European grapevine moth in April 2021, APHIS had required irradiation for Chilean plums, and during a two-month window also allowed for entry following a methyl bromide treatment. APHIS now intends to reinstate the methyl bromide treatment option, and will also allow imports for plums grown under a systems approach to mitigation, the agency said. Comments are due Jan. 3.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa, it said in a notice released Oct. 26. An agency pest risk analysis found “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,” APHIS said. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports into the U.S. and its territories, subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency. Comments are due by Dec. 27.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of fresh leaves and stems of garland chrysanthemum (Glebionis coronarium) from Mexico, it said Oct. 19. An agency pest risk analysis found “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,” APHIS said. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports into the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is allowing imports of raw and processed poultry and poultry products from Poland, it said. The agency said it found Poland’s “poultry laws, regulations, and inspection system” equivalent to the U.S. regulatory and inspection scheme. “Poultry products derived from poultry slaughtered and processed in certified Polish establishments are now eligible for export to the United States,” FSIS said. “All such products will be subject to reinspection at United States points-of-entry by FSIS inspectors,” and remain subject to Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service import requirements, it said.
Lacey Act declarations will be required in ACE for entries subject to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s sixth phase of enforcement beginning Oct. 1, even though tariff flags might not immediately be in place for the relevant subheadings, an APHIS official said during CBP’s biweekly call with ACE software developers on Sept. 30.