The Animal and Plant Health and Inspection Service issued a final rule to amend the regulations that govern the import of animals and animal products by consolidating the list of factors APHIS considers when evaluating the animal health status of a foreign region from 11 factors to 8 factors, and by setting out new factors APHIS will consider when evaluating a region as historically free of a specific disease. APHIS made no changes to its Dec. 28, 2011 proposed rule. This final rule is effective Aug. 27.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 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 Department of Agriculture amended the geographical area of the China/Hong Kong Region to include Macau for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Commodity Credit Corporation’s Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) for fiscal year 2012. All other terms and conditions previously announced remain the same, said USDA. The previous Foreign Agricultural Service announcement pertinent to this allocation is PR 0063-12.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will host seven courses this summer designed to teach foreign agricultural officials about animal and plant health safeguarding practices in the U.S. and help them develop science-based regulatory systems to prevent the introduction and establishment of harmful pests and diseases, it said. By helping developing countries establish regulatory frameworks based on sound science and formal protocols, APHIS said it's helping facilitate export opportunities for U.S. producers. The courses include: Risk Analysis for Animal Health; Emergency Poultry Disease Response; Diagnostic Laboratory Network Systems; Veterinary Epidemiology; International Transboundary Animal Disease Control; Plant Health Systems Analysis; and Plant Health Pest Risk Assessment. Further information: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/international_safeguarding/index.shtml.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails July 20 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.