The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reminded APHIS permit holders June 26 that, if their permit was issued in the agency’s legacy ePermits system, they must “apply and establish an account in APHIS eFile to continue working with regulated materials” after ePermits is decommissioned in 2024. “Submit your new application in APHIS eFile as soon as possible to avoid delays,” the agency said. Data from ePermits “will not be transferred to APHIS eFile,” so the permit holder “will need to apply for a new permit in APHIS eFile.” No action is necessary for permits that were issued in APHIS eFile, APHIS said.
Trade talks between the U.S. and Argentina this week covered customs facilitation, lithium and copper, and agricultural concerns on both sides.
A bipartisan group of more than 50 lawmakers urged USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service last week to protect U.S. poultry exports from what they consider unwarranted trade restrictions.
Ecuador this month officially opened its market for imports of U.S. rough rice, paving the way for a “potential $155 million annual market” for American rice producers, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Oct. 30. Ecuador’s announcement, which came after “consultations” with APHIS and industry officials, sets new interim entry requirements for U.S. rice. APHIS said it has notified U.S. exporters about the change and updated requirements in the Phytosanitary Export Database system on Oct. 24 to “allow shipments to initiate under the interim conditions that Ecuador set.” The agency added that Ecuadorian importers “have already arranged purchases under these terms.” A pest risk assessment is still pending by Ecuador’s national plant protection organization, APHIS said, and after that is performed the country will “make a final decision on requirements.”
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will on Sept. 18 launch an updated version of the Registered Aquaculture Export Facility (RAEF) inspection program, the agency said. On that date, the agency will begin using “RAEF 2.0 documents and processes,” and will “apply changes to currently enrolled facilities at their next regularly scheduled annual facility inspection and approval,” it said. APHIS will hold a series of training webinars on the new system in September, and will send an email in “the coming days” with a webinar schedule. APHIS also will launch a new website in September “dedicated to aquatic animal export resources ... including step-by-step guides on the RAEF 2.0 inspection program,” it said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking comments on an information collection involving the U.S. Origin Health Certificate for exports of animals and animal products. The agency said export of "agricultural commodities, including animals and animal products, is a major business in the United States and contributes to a favorable balance of trade," and APHIS "maintains information regarding the import health requirements of other countries for animals and animal products exported from the" U.S. Comments are due Oct. 3.
As part of the phase one trade agreement, China agreed to allow imports of chicken on a state-by-state basis after avian influenza cases, as long as 90 days had passed since the last case, and disinfection protocols had been completed.
Bangladesh this month eliminated a fumigation requirement for imports of U.S. cotton, the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in a May 23 report. Certain U.S. cotton no longer needs to undergo “fumigation on-arrival” as long as the shipment has a phytosanitary certificate issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Although those on the Senate Agriculture Committee hailed the 14% surge in agricultural exports in 2022, when the value reached an all-time high of $196 billion, a half-dozen senators pressed USDA Undersecretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor on Mexico's plan to block the import of genetically modified corn.
Sen. Jim Risch and Rep. Mike Simpson, both Idaho Republicans, led a bicameral, bipartisan letter asking the Biden administration to push Mexico to comply with its agreements to allow the import of fresh U.S. potatoes. The letter from 34 members of Congress, including the Senate Finance Committee's top Democrat and Republican, said Mexico says it needs additional site visits in the U.S. before restoring market access.