The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 17 that Special Import Quota #18 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 24, allowing importation of 10,197,690 kilograms (46,837 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 24, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 22, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the October through December 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced it will continue to allow importers to file electronic copies of phytosanitary certificates for plant commodities until Sept. 30, it said Feb. 14, as expected (see 2202070048). The agency had previously delayed the end the policy of accepting copies Jan. 1 (see 2112100059), before postponing again until March 31 (see 2112290032). The policy is in place to mitigate challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America asked for the latest extension. "Starting October 1, 2022, APHIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will accept only original phytosanitary certificates and forms for plant commodities," APHIS said.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending its requirements for the maturity of imported avocados, as well as avocados grown in South Florida, it said Feb. 14. Under the final rule, the beginning and end dates of annual maturity shipping schedules will run April 16 to April 15 of the following year, with the exception of requirements for Guatemalan avocados, which will run June 9 to June 8 the following year. Under Section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Act, imported avocados must conform to the same maturity, size and grade requirements as those set by certain domestic marketing orders, including for avocados.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 10 that Special Import Quota #17 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 17, allowing importation of 10,197,690 kilograms (46,837 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 17, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 15, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the October through December 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow the resumption of imports of table stock potatoes from Prince Edward Island, but only into Puerto Rico for now, it said by email Feb. 8. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted in the announcement that Puerto Rico has low risk for potato wart due to its climate, and does not have a commercial potato industry. Canada suspended exports of table stock and processing potatoes from Prince Edward Island in November, after it became clear USDA would act to ban imports following the detection of potato wart in the province (see 2111230041).
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will continue to accept electronic copies of phytosanitary certificates and forms until Sept. 30, the agency told the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America in a letter dated Feb. 3 and subsequently released by the NCBFAA. APHIS has been accepting the electronic copies through CBP’s Document Image System as a measure to mitigate COVID-19 disruptions, and had been set to end the policy prior to an NCBFAA letter asking for an extension sent in mid-January (see 2201180050).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Feb. 3 that Special Import Quota #16 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 10, allowing importation of 10,197,690 kilograms (46,837 bales) of upland cotton, up from 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) in the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 10, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 8, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the October through December 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 27 that Special Import Quota #15 for upland cotton will be established Feb. 3, allowing importation of 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than May 3, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by Aug. 1, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September through November 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to allow importation of three species of dwarf maple -- Acer buergerianum, A. palmatum, and A. pseudosieboldianum -- from South Korea into the United States, subject to certain phytostanitary requirements, it said in a notice released Jan. 28. Comments are due April 1.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation announced Jan. 20 that Special Import Quota #14 for upland cotton will be established Jan. 27, allowing importation of 9,559,147 kilograms (43,904 bales) of upland cotton, the same as the previous quota period. The quota will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than April 26, 2022, and entered into the U.S. by July 25, 2022. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the September through November 2021 period, the most recent three months for which data is available.