On May 24, 2012, the Foreign Agricultural Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued emails May 24 and 25, 2012, 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 Food Safety and Inspection Service revised export requirements and plant lists for the following countries for the week of May 18 through May 25, 2012:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service reports that the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) held its 20th session, May 7-11, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with 177 delegates from 47 countries, one regional organization, and 10 observer organizations. A detailed Delegate’s Report is available here. Highlights include:
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued directive 9900.8 to its import inspection personnel concerning the identification, control, documentation, and disposition of imported meat, poultry, egg products, and shell eggs packed for consumer use that are refused entry into the U.S. The directive, which replaces directive 9020.1, Rev. 1, dated 05/18/09, is effective 05/29/12.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued directive 9900.5 to its import inspection personnel for conducting label verification procedures on imported meat, poultry, and egg products. The instructions for Canadian shipment and nutritional labeling verification are revised for clarity, and the section on un-marked carcasses, primal parts, and other products identified for further processing (Intended Use) is also revised. The directive said it incorporates instructions related to the Public Health Information System (PHIS). FSIS’ directive, which replaces FSIS Directive 9500.3 dated 02/02/10, is not effective until May 29, 2012.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service issued directive 9900.2, which gives import inspection personnel instructions on how to conduct import reinspection on shipments of imported meat, poultry, and egg products. The directive includes instructions on prioritization of reinspections, sampling plans and defect tables for physical inspections, physical inspection of various products, condition of container examinations, incubation of hermetically sealed containers, net weight reinspection, etc. This directive is effective May 29, 2012.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board is issuing the following notices for May 25, 2012:
Regulations pertaining to imports of cotton woven fabric and short supply procedures were withdrawn by the International Trade Administration. Effective June 25, 2012, 15 CFR Part 336 and 19 CFR Part 357, which provided for tariff rate quotas for cotton woven fabric and “short supply” voluntary restraints on certain steel imports, respectively, will be removed from the Code of Federal Regulations. The ITA said both sets of regulations are obsolete, because the tariff rate quota on cotton woven fabric expired in 2009, and the short supply voluntary restraints have not affected U.S. trade for over 19 years.
Twenty-four individuals were charged Wednesday as part of an international car theft ring responsible for the exportation of stolen vehicles to various West African countries, reports Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to ICE, the investigation resulted in the recovery of more than 200 vehicles with an estimated retail value of $6 million.