CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
International Trade Today is providing readers with the top stories from last week in case they were missed. All articles can be found by searching on the titles or by clicking on the hyperlinked reference number.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Feb. 11 suspended avocado export program operations in the Mexican state of Michoacan, after a “security incident” that included a verbal threat to an APHIS employee, an agency spokesperson emailed Feb. 14. “The suspension will remain in place for as long as necessary to ensure the appropriate actions are taken, to secure the safety of APHIS personnel working in Mexico,” the spokesperson said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to accept electronic copies of phytosanitary certificates and forms until Sept. 30, the agency told the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a letter dated Feb. 3 and subsequently released by the NCBFAA. APHIS has been accepting the electronic copies through CBP’s Document Image System as a measure to mitigate COVID-19 disruptions, and had been set to end the policy prior to an NCBFAA letter asking for an extension sent in mid-January (see 2201180050).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow importation of three species of dwarf maple -- Acer buergerianum, A. palmatum, and A. pseudosieboldianum -- from South Korea into the United States, subject to certain phytostanitary requirements, it said in a notice released Jan. 28. Comments are due April 1.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced that it has reached a final decision that the Neuchatel and Ticino cantons of Switzerland are free of Newcastle disease. The change in disease status eliminates certain restrictions for importation of carcasses, meat, parts or products of carcasses, and eggs (other than hatching eggs) of poultry, game birds or other birds from the two cantons. The determination takes effect Jan. 20.
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America issued a letter on Jan. 14 urging the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to continue accepting copies of phytosanitary certificates to the agency's Document Image System. APHIS twice has extended its temporary policy of accepting copies -- most recently from Jan. 1 to March 31 (see 2112290032) -- which is in place to mitigate challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Shuffling thousands of pieces of paper through the supply chain in an otherwise electronic system never made sense in the best of times," the trade group said. "In the current chaos, the prospect is alarming."
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow importers a few more months before it begins rejecting copies of phytosanitary certificates for plant commodities, it said Dec. 29. The agency had previously said it would end the policy of accepting copies Jan. 1 (see 2112100059), but now says it will begin accepting only originals on March 31. The policy is in place to mitigate challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow importation of pummelo from Vietnam into the United States, subject to certain phytostanitary requirements, it said in a notice released Dec. 23. Comments are due Feb. 25.