The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is finalizing changes to exemptions from regulations governing imports of genetically modified plants, the agency said Nov. 12. The changes become effective Nov. 13, APHIS said in a notice.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of fresh Hass avocado fruit from Guatemala, it said in a notice released Nov. 7. 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” with the importation of Guatemalan avocados, APHIS said. APHIS will begin authorizing imports of avocadoes from Guatemala Nov. 8.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to allow imports of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants from Germany and the Netherlands in approved growing media into the U.S., it said in a notice. "To be eligible for importation, plants for planting in approved growing media must be of approved plant taxa and come from a facility that is part of an approved growing media program approved by APHIS," the agency said. Such a program deploys measures described by APHIS in the notice to mitigate the risk of pest introduction. If APHIS finalizes the decision, it will allow imports of Phalaenopsis spp. orchid plants from the two countries into the U.S., subject to the phytosanitary requirements specified by the agency. Comments will be accepted through Jan. 6.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is allowing, effective Oct. 29, fresh soursop fruit from Mexico, it said in a notice. Soursop fruit (Annona muricata) is also known as guanabana. "Based on findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment through a previous notice, we have determined that 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 via the importation of fresh soursop fruit from Mexico," APHIS said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow importation of three species of dwarf maple -- Acer buergerianum, A. palmatum and A. pseudosieboldianum -- from South Korea into the U.S., subject to certain phytostanitary requirements, it said in a notice. Imports may be authorized beginning Oct. 21.
As CBP ramps up its focus on ACE interoperability in the run-up to the start of development of ACE 2.0, an agency official outlined five goods that could benefit from improved integration: e-cigarettes, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics and automotive goods.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters: