The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reopening the period for comments on potential regulations it is considering on the movement, including importation, of animals modified or developed by genetic engineering, it said in a notice March 8. Jointly issued in December by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Food Safety Inspection Service (see 2012230087), USDA's advance notice of proposed rulemaking contemplates that the APHIS would conduct assessments of genetically engineered animals, and FSIS would conduct pre-slaughter inspections. Importation and interstate movement would be subject to permitting requirements. USDA’s approach would be similar to recent regulations on the movement of genetically engineered plants (see 2005180023), with some differences, the ANPRM said. Comments are now due by May 7.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced March 4 that Special Import Quota #20 for upland cotton will be established March 11, allowing importation of 8,648,011 kilograms (39,720 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than June 8, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by Sept. 6, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the October 2020 through December 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 25 that Special Import Quota #19 for upland cotton will be established March 4, allowing importation of 8,648,011 kilograms (39,720 bales) of upland cotton, down from 9,464,255 kilograms (43,469 bales) in the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than June 1, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 30, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the October 2020 through December 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 18 that Special Import Quota #18 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 25, allowing importation of 9,464,255 kilograms (43,469 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 25, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 23, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September 2020 through November 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 11 that Special Import Quota #17 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 18, allowing importation of 9,464,255 kilograms (43,469 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 18, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 16, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September 2020 through November 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 4 that Special Import Quota #16 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 11, allowing importation of 9,464,255 kilograms (43,469 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 11, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 9, 2021. CCC had announced Special Import Quota #15 on Jan. 28. Established Feb. 4, the quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 4, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 2, 2021. The quotas are equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September 2020 through November 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 21 that Special Import Quota #14 for upland cotton will be established on Jan. 28, allowing importation of 9,464,255 kilograms (43,469 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 27, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by July 26, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September 2020 through November 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will roll out its “Core” partner government agency (PGA) message set in two stages “to allow trade to adjust to the data requirements,” said CBP in a CSMS message Jan. 21. On the Jan. 25 date previously announced as APHIS Core’s mandatory use date, APHIS will require filers to submit message set data for regulated products but will maintain “warning level” Harmonized Tariff Schedule code flagging. Beginning March 15, APHIS will fully enforce submission of its Core message set using reject flagging. “The delay until March 15, 2021, is technical only; filers should start submitting APHIS Core message set data on January 25, 2021,” CBP said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 14 that Special Import Quota #13 for upland cotton will be established on Jan. 21, allowing importation of 9,464,255 kilograms (43,469 bales) of upland cotton, up from 8,893,540 kilograms (40,847 bales) in the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 20, 2021, and entered into the U.S. by July 19, 2021. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September 2020 through November 2020 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is creating a new promotion, research and information order on pecans, it said in a final rule released Jan. 12. The order will be funded by assessments of 2 cents per pound of “inshell” pecans, and 4 cents per pound of shelled pecans, that are imported into or produced in the U.S. Importers and producers of fewer than 50,000 pounds of inshell pecans per fiscal year, or 25,000 pounds of shelled pecans per fiscal year, would be exempt from the assessments. “The purpose of the program is to strengthen the position of pecans in the marketplace, maintain and expand markets for pecans, and develop new uses for pecans,” AMS said. The rule becomes effective Feb. 12. Collection of the assessments is to start on Oct. 1. The rule also announces the AMS approval of new pecan information collection requirements by the Office of Management and Budget for the operation of the order.