The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has added a sentence to its announcement that a metric unit of measure and quantity is required for the Lacey Act declaration as of May 1, 2010. The new sentence states that in response to industry concerns, APHIS will implement a grace period of two months (ending July 1, 2010), to allow industry to make the needed changes to declaration procedures. (Notice, posted 05/17/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/ClarificationQuantityandUnitofMeasure.pdf)
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has issued a proposed rule to, among other things, provide for the importation of Hass avocados from Mexico into Puerto Rico under the same current systems for U.S. import from Michoacán, Mexico, which include orchard certification, trace back labeling, port-of-arrival inspection, etc. Comments are due by July 13, 2010. (D/N APHIS-2008-0060, FR Pub 05/14/10, available at http://www.federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-11598_PI.pdf)
On April 28, 2010, APHIS updated its Gypsy Moth Program PPQ Manual. This is a prototype of the Gypsy Moth Program Manual. (Manual, updated 04/28/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/domestic/downloads/gypsy_moth.pdf)
On May 10, 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. (Manual, updated 05/10/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/fv.pdf)
On May 10, 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. (Manual, updated 05/10/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/mac.shtml)
On May 10, 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. (Manual, updated 05/10/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/apm.shtml)
On May 11, 2010, the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC) met in Philadelphia, PA to discuss a variety of trade issues. Highlights of the discussions include:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sources have announced that the agency is granting a two-month grace period for its requirement that plant material quantities be reported on the Lacey Act declaration using standardized metric units (such as kg, m, m2, m3).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is advising the public of its decision to begin issuing permits, effective May 12, 2010, for the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh pomegranates and fresh baby kiwi from Chile based on the findings of pest risk analyses. (APHIS notice, FR Pub 05/12/10, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-11438.pdf)
On May 6, 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. (Manual, updated 05/06/10, available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/seeds_not_for_planting.pdf)