APHIS will on Aug. 15 end its “core” pilot, which includes all filings except those required by the Lacey Act, such as PGA data required for imports of plants, live animals and animal products under APHIS’ Animal Care, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Veterinary Services and Plant Protection and Quarantine programs, APHIS said in a notice (here). After that date, "entry filers will be required to file electronic entries in ACE with APHIS data and some or all APHIS forms using the method designated on the CBP Web site for the submission of the APHIS data and forms," but “APHIS will still collect some paper documentation, such as phytosanitary certificates and health certificates for live animals and animal products,” under an Office of Management and Budget waiver. APHIS said it is ending its core pilot, which began in October, because it has “proven successful.” Lacey Act entry data has been required in ACE since March 31 (see 1603250048).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its regulations to clarify irradiation treatment procedures for mangoes imported from India (here). The agency had previously amended its regulations to provide that mangoes treated with irradiation in the U.S. may be inspected by the Indian government in India, and then APHIS at the U.S. port of entry, instead of undergoing joint inspection in India prior to shipment. APHIS’s final rule makes a technical correction to the amended regulations to remove references to joint preclearance inspections the agency says should have been removed.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes July 12 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables and flowers.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes July 11 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables and flowers.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is extending the comment period on its proposal to allow the importation of lemons from northwest Argentina into the continental U.S. (here), subject to certain conditions including production requirements and a phytosanitary certificate. Lemons would also have to be harvested green or treated for Medfly, APHIS said. Comments are due Aug. 10.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow importation of bone-in ovine meat from Uruguay, subject to certain conditions, it said (here). Uruguay requested the exemption from deboning requirements so it could export rack of lamb to the U.S., APHIS said. Comments are due Aug. 30.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to ease the approval process for cold treatment facilities in the Southern and Western U.S., it said (here). The proposed rule would set general criteria for approving cold treatment facilities across the U.S., replacing the location-specific criteria currently in place, APHIS said. “These criteria, if met, would allow us to approve new cold treatment facilities without rulemaking and facilitate the importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of pests of concern,” it said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes June 27 to Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) electronic manuals. While some changes are minor, other changes may affect the admissibility of the plant products, including fruits, vegetables and flowers.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
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