APHIS Issues Final Rule on the Importation of Wheat from Regions Affected with Karnal Bunt
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued a final rule, effective March 21, 2005, which amends 7 CFR Part 319 regarding the importation of wheat from regions affected with Karnal bunt.
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(According to APHIS, Karnal bunt is a fungal disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum), durum wheat (Triticum durum), and triticale (Triticum aestivum x Secale cereale), a hybrid of wheat and rye. Karnal bunt is caused by the smut fungus Tilletia indica (Mitra) Mundkur and is spread by spores, primarily through the movement of infected seed.)
Final Rule Makes Import Regulations Equivalent to Domestic Regulations, Etc.
APHIS states that its final rule's changes make its regulations regarding the importation of wheat and related articles from regions affected with Karnal bunt substantively equivalent to its domestic Karnal bunt regulations. This final rule also makes these import regulations consistent with international agreements to which the U.S. is a party.
According to APHIS, the final rule's amendments, among other things:
list regions affected with Karnal bunt, as well as articles regulated for Karnal bunt;
increase the flexibility of the regulations so that they provide more readily for the recognition of areas where Karnal bunt is not known to occur within regions where Karnal bunt is known to be present;
describe conditions, including requirements for phytosanitary certificates, under which wheat and related articles from regions affected with Karnal bunt are imported into the U.S.; and
specify cleaning and/or disinfection requirements for imported farm machinery and other equipment used to handle or store Karnal bunt-positive seed or host crops.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 03/11/04 news, 04031120, for BP summary of the proposed rule.)
APHIS contact - Jeanne Van Dersal (301) 734-6799
APHIS final rule (D/N 02-057-2, FR Pub 02/18/05) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-3141.pdf
BP Note
On February 7, 2003, APHIS published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) concerning possible changes to the flag smut regulations. APHIS sources now state that a proposed rule may be published in approximately six months or at a later date. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/14/03 news, 03021415, for BP summary of the ANPR on flag smut.)