USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service last week updated requirements pertaining to the import of fresh bell peppers (Capsicum annuum) from Spain as part of a broader effort to prevent the introduction of the Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata or Medfly).
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is clarifying amendments related to a paper and paper-based packaging promotion, research and information order managed by the Paper and Packaging Board, over which USDA has oversight. The final rule on the amendments is effective Feb. 20, according to a Federal Register notice.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is reducing trade restrictions on unvaccinated live poultry imports from France and unvaccinated live ducks from the European Poultry Trade (EPTR) region and from the countries of Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway, it said in a Jan. 16 release.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will be ensuring that imports of horses, ruminants, swine and dogs from certain Central American countries are not carrying screwworm, a type of pest.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking comment on a pest risk analysis that it has made on the risks associated with importing fresh rhizomes of wasabi, Eutrema japonicum (Miq.) Koidz. (Brassicaceae), for consumption from Indonesia into the U.S., it said in a Federal Register notice.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service collected nearly $2 million in penalties in fiscal year 2024, according to a Jan. 10 summary detailing APHIS activities last year.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is restricting imports of live animal commodities originating from or transiting through Belize, after detecting New World screwworm in cattle in the country, USDA said in a news release Jan. 7.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will be adjusting user fee rates for the costs of providing veterinary diagnostic goods and services and veterinary services for imports and exports of live animals and animal products. The new user fee rates go into effect Jan. 10, APHIS said in a Federal Register notice.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking comment on its pest risk analysis that looked at the ability to import fresh pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus) for consumption from Indonesia while also preventing the introduction of plant pests or noxious weeds. APHIS determined that one or more phytosanitary measures could be sufficient to prevent the importation of pests or noxious weeds, according to a notice. Comments on the phytosanitary measures are due by Feb. 28.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the 2025 hourly rates it will charge meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, and importers and exporters for providing voluntary, overtime and holiday inspection and identification, certification and laboratory services. Effective Jan. 12, the agency's base time rate will be $73.04, and its overtime rate $89.68. The 2024 holiday rate will be $106.32, and the laboratory rate will be $105.68. FSIS said the export application fee will be $4.83 per application, up 82 cents from last year's fee.