APHIS Delays Implementation of New Plant Import Sampling Procedures
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced in an email, sent July 30, that on July 18 it postponed the use of risk-based sampling (RBS) procedures on shipments of plants for planting at plant inspection stations (PIS) after only two days of implementation. PIS managers were instructed to return to the use of traditional sampling methods until further notice, it said.
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APHIS had begun implementing the RBS procedures for all imported plants except those included in the earlier-implemented Propagative Monitoring and Release Program (PMRP) on July 16, employing a sampling level intended for high-risk commodities in order to obtain the most accurate estimate of pest risk associated with each country/commodity combination. According to APHIS, a significant delay in shipment clearance occurred because the high level RBS rate is more intensive than the sampling level used previously. APHIS said this delay in implementation will provide industry time to adjust commercial shipping and handling practices to facilitate clearance of imported plants under RBS procedures.
Before implementation resumes, APHIS said it will evaluate sampling rates and methods to reduce adverse impact to commerce while assuring appropriate inspection levels to safeguard U.S. agriculture and the environment and adequate data collection for use in categorizing plants by level of risk.
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(See ITT’s Online Archives 11102620 for summary of APHIS notice of implementation of the new sampling procedures.)