The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails Aug. 2 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 said it's reevaluating its process for responding to domestic chrysanthemum white rust (CWR) outbreaks and the import of plant material that hosts CWR. The import of CWR host plants for planting from some countries and localities is currently prohibited to prevent the introduction of CWR into the U.S. In addition, APHIS said, import of cut flowers of CWR host plants from countries where CWR is known to occur is currently restricted. APHIS is reevaluating its current regulatory strategy in order to improve the effectiveness and economic efficiency of its programs. After reviewing public comments, APHIS will determine whether to propose changes to its existing regulations, it said. Comments are due by Oct. 2.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service said the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is inviting member countries and observer organizations to participate in the following six electronic working groups:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails Aug. 1 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 Agricultural Marketing Service issued a final rule amending the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for organic products by: (1) extending the expiration date for use of tetracycline in organic crop production to control fire blight in apples and pears until Oct. 21, 2014; and (2) adding two substances, formic acid and attapulgite, along with any restrictive annotations, for use in organic livestock production and organic processing, respectively. AMS said these changes are in response to recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on Oct. 28, 2010, and April 29, 2011.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said it worked with federal, international and industry partners to arrange for the release of 209 shipments of American products valued at more than $39 million in 2012. The goods had been detained at foreign ports of entry pending resolution of various animal and plant health questions, APHIS said, and APHIS has helped to open or maintain more than $51 million in overseas markets for U.S. agricultural products. When American shipments are detained at foreign ports of entry, APHIS said it and other USDA officials negotiate with international officials to resolve the issue. APHIS launched a new website that will contain trade related information and help exporters find information on APHIS's services (here).