New regulations setting a new de minimis exemption from Lacey Act declaration requirements for importers is now set for publication, after the Office of Management and Budget approved its review of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service final rule. As proposed by APHIS in July 2018 (see 1807060013), importers would not have to submit declarations for products with minimal amounts of plant material, with thresholds based on either weight or volume at either the product or entry line level. OMB completed its approval “consistent with change,” which means the final rule can be published, albeit with some substantive changes required by OMB.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Feb. 6 announced that Special Import Quota #16 for upland cotton will be established on Feb. 13, allowing importation of 12,240,623 kilograms (56,220 bales) of upland cotton. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 12, 2020, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 10, 2020. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period September 2019 through November 2019, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Jan. 30 announced that Special Import Quota #15 for upland cotton will be established on Feb. 6, allowing importation of 12,240,623 kilograms (56,220 bales) of upland cotton. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 5, 2020, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 3, 2020. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period September 2019 through November 2019, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is adding the Philippines to its list of regions subject to import restrictions on pork and pork products because it is affected by African swine fever, it said. Restrictions take effect retroactively to Sept. 17, 2019.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to remove restrictions on importation of unshu oranges from Japan, it said in a notice. The agency will now allow importation of unshu oranges from Shikoku or Honshu without the previously required fumigation with methyl bromide. APHIS will also allow importation Unshu oranges from Kyushu into all U.S. ports. The changes take effect Jan. 31.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Jan. 23 announced that Special Import Quota #14 for upland cotton will be established on Jan. 30, allowing importation of 12,240,623 kilograms (56,220 bales) of upland cotton, up from 11,008,601 kilograms (50,562 bales) in the last quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 28, 2020, and entered into the U.S. by July 27, 2020. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period September 2019 through November 2019, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Agricultural Marketing Service plans to update its seed regulations under the Federal Seed Act, the agency said in a proposed rule. “The proposed revisions would add certain seed species to the lists of covered kinds of seed and update the lists to reflect current scientific nomenclature; update regulations related to seed quality, germination and purity standards, and acceptable seed testing methods; and update seed certification and recertification requirements, including new eligibility standards and the recognition of current breeding techniques,” the agency said. Comments are due March 27.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is updating its table of marketing order fee assessment rates on importers of cattle, beef, veal and beef products. The agency issued a direct final rule Jan. 8 that incorporates into the table some recent changes the International Trade Commission has made to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. AMS subsequently issued a correction to some errors in that table. The new rate schedule takes effect Feb. 7.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Jan. 16 announced that Special Import Quota #13 for upland cotton will be established on Jan. 23, allowing importation of 11,008,601 kilograms (50,562 bales) of upland cotton. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 21, 2020, and entered into the U.S. by July 20, 2020. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period September 2019 through November 2019, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold two meetings with the trade community on implementation of upcoming inspection requirements under the agreement suspending antidumping and countervailing duties on fresh tomatoes from Mexico, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America said in an emailed update. One of the meetings will be held in Nogales, Arizona, on Jan. 28; the other will be on Jan. 30 in Otay Mesa, California.