The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations by increasing the value assigned to imported cotton for calculating supplemental assessments collected for use by the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. The current total assessment on imported cotton is $0.012665 per kilogram of imported cotton. The new total assessment, effective Sept. 27, is $0.014109 per kilogram, an increase of $0.001444 per kilogram. According to AMS, this increase reflects the increase in the average weighted price of Upland Cotton Received by U.S. Farmers during the period January through December 2011. AMS also changed, effective Sept. 27, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule statistical reporting numbers that were amended since the last assessment adjustment.
The Foreign Agricultural Service announced a fee of $170 to be charged for the 2013 tariff-rate quota (TRQ) year for each license issued to a person or firm by the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorizing the importation of certain dairy articles, which are subject to tariff-rate quotas set forth in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
The Agricultural Marketing Service revised the voluntary Standards for Grades of Grapefruit Juice. Effective Sept. 26, the standards for grapefruit juice will be changed to remove the parameters for maximum “free and suspended pulp” to account for advances in industry processing technology.
The Agricultural Marketing Service issued a final rule establishing a minimum quality regulation for lots of pistachios imported into the U.S. The amendments to 7 CFR Part 999, which are effective Sept. 26, specify a maximum aflatoxin tolerance level of 15 parts per billion, as certified by aflatoxin inspection certificates. According to AMS, these import quality requirements are the same as or comparable to those in effect for the domestically produced commodity.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails Aug. 23 announcing changes to some 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 issued emails Aug. 22 announcing changes to some 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 Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a public meeting Sept. 17 in Washington, DC, to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 26th session of the Codex Committee on Processed Fruits and Vegetables (CCPFV), which will be in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Oct. 15-19. CCPFV is responsible for: elaborating worldwide standards and related texts for all types of processed fruits and vegetables including but not limited to canned, dried and frozen products as well as fruit and vegetable juices and nectars, FSIS said. The public may participate via teleconference by calling 1-888-858-2144, participant code 6208658.