The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 9-10 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 will allow imports of fresh peppers from Peru (here), it said in a final rule that takes effect Oct. 14. Under the final rule, common chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), aji pepper (Capsicum baccatum L.), habanero chili (Capsicum chinense Jacq.), Thai pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.), and rocoto (Capsicum pubescens Ruiz & Pav.) will be allowed into the continental U.S. and its territories (Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Importation of Peruvian peppers will be subject to conditions including fruit fly trapping, pre-harvest inspections, production sites, and packinghouse procedures designed to exclude quarantine pests.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced it will allow imports of citrus fruit from all regions of Peru effective Sept. 14 (here). Previously, imports from only five regions were allowed entry into the continental U.S. However, after further evaluation, APHIS said the restrictions currently in place for those five regions would effectively mitigate the pest risk for citrus from all other parts of Peru.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 8 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 Sept. 4 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 reminded importers that Lacey Act declarations are now required for an additional 20 products announced in February (see 1502050015), in an email sent to stakeholders on Sept. 4 (here). The 20 products, which include casks, barrels, barrelheads, tableware and kitchenware, were added to the APHIS Lacey Act Schedule of Enforcement (here) on Aug. 6, it said. The Schedule was also updated to correct an errant HTS number for used wooden casks, said APHIS. Imports of any products listed in the Schedule are subject to Lacey Act PPQ Form 505 declaration requirements, and failure to file the declaration for listed product types containing plant material may result in civil or criminal penalties and forfeiture, said the agency.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of fresh cranberries from Chile to the U.S., it said in a notice that takes effect Sept. 9 (here). The decision follows a pest risk assessment that concluded several phytosanitary measures could adequately mitigate the risk of introducing plant risks or noxious weeds, said APHIS. The measures that will have to be taken include importation in commercial consignments only; a phytosanitary certificate issued by Chile; and inspection upon arrival at the U.S. port of entry.
CBP issued the following releases on commercial trade and related matters:
CBP’s recent delay of some mandatory use dates for the Automated Commercial Environment elicited a sigh of relief from the trade community, but much work remains to ensure a smooth transition, said customs brokers and software developers in recent interviews. The new staged approach, with deadlines in February and July 2016, gives the trade the time it needs to successfully migrate to ACE. However, familiar problems with quota-related entry types and still-unreleased software requirements by CBP and other agencies will remain hurdles to be overcome as ACE implementation continues over the coming year.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced changes Sept. 2 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.