USDA Reminds Shippers of Certification, Inspection Requirements for Asian Gypsy Moth Prevention
The Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently sent a joint reminder to shippers of measures in place to prevent the spread of the Asian gypsy moth to North America from ports in the Russian Far East, Japan, Korea, and Northern China. During specified risk periods that occur between May and September depending on the region, vessels arriving from ports in these areas must arrive at North American ports free of Asian gypsy moths and with required predeparture certifications, said USDA and CFIA. Vessels that arrive without the required certification or with Asian gypsy moths present will face “significant delays” in cargo loading, discharging, and clearance activities, “resulting in loss of revenue to the shipping line and associated parties.”
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In 2013, the two agencies intercepted vessels with Asian gypsy moth egg masses on the superstructures of the ships and in the cargo. Many vessels with Asian gypsy moths present were ordered into international waters to mitigate the risk of introduction, said USDA and CFIA. This year, the risk of introduction of Asian gypsy moths is considered to be high, they said.
Vessels Must be Inspected, Certified, Free of Moths and Eggs
For vessels arriving from regulated areas and during specified periods, the following measures are required:
- Vessels must be inspected and must obtain pre-departure certification from a recognized certification body. A copy of the certificate, stating that the vessel is free of Asian gypsy moth life stages, must be forwarded to their U.S or Canadian agents. The inspections should be performed as close to vessel departure time from the regulated port as possible.
- Vessels must arrive in North American ports free from AGM. To avoid facing inspection delays, shipping lines should perform intensive vessel self-inspections to look for, remove (scrape off) and properly dispose of or destroy all egg masses and other life stages of AGM prior to entering U.S. and Canadian ports.
- Vessels must provide two-year port of call data, at least 96 hours prior to arrival in a North American port, to the Canadian or U.S. agent.
The requirements apply to the following regions and time periods (see USDA/CFIA notice for a more detailed list of ports): Russian Far East 7/1-9/30; Northern China 6/1-9/30; South Korea 6/1-9/30; Northern Japan 7/1-9/30; Western Japan 6/25-9/15; Eastern Japan 6/20-8/20; Southern Japan 6/1-8/10; Okinawa 5/25-6/30.