The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Aug. 31 announced Special Import Quota #19 for upland cotton will be established on Sept. 7, allowing importation of 12,751,474 kilograms (58,566 bales) of upland cotton. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Dec. 5, 2017, and entered into the U.S. by March 5, 2018. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period April 2017 through June 2017, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending the Cotton Board Rules and Regulations to increase the value assigned to imported cotton for the purposes of calculating supplemental assessments on imports collected under the Cotton Research and Promotion Program. The revised value in the direct final rule is $0.01151, an increase of $0.000498 per kilogram. The increase reflects a rise in the average price of Upland cotton received by U.S. farmers during the period January through December 2016. The change takes effect Nov. 6, unless adverse comments are received by Oct. 5.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Aug. 24 announced Special Import Quota #18 for upland cotton will be established on Aug. 31, allowing importation of 12,751,474 kilograms (58,566 bales) of upland cotton. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Nov. 28, 2017, and entered into the U.S. by Feb. 26, 2018. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period April 2017 through June 2017, the most recent three months for which data is available.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service will on Aug. 24 hold a second educational meeting in Webster, Florida, to discuss its new authorities for inspection of Siluriformes fish, including catfish, outlined in a 2015 final rule (see 1511270024), it said. At the meeting, “FSIS will present information on the upcoming full implementation of the regulatory requirements at official domestic establishments that process Siluriformes fish and fish products, as well as information on entry procedures and reinspection at official import inspection establishments,” the agency said. Full implementation of FSIS inspection authority for Siluriformes took effect Aug. 2 (see 1706300029).
The Agricultural Marketing Service is amending its U.S. Standards for Grades of shelled and in-shell walnuts, it said. Changes include the addition of red-colored walnuts to color requirements and removal of the “unclassified section.” The final rule takes effect Sept. 21.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is establishing new voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of frozen onions, it said in a final rule. “The grade standards provide a common language for trade, a means of measuring value in the marketing of frozen onions, and guidance on the effective use of frozen onions,” it said. The new standards take effect Sept. 21.
The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation on Aug. 17 announced Special Import Quota #17 for upland cotton will be established on Aug. 24, allowing importation of 12,751,474 kilograms (58,566 bales) of upland cotton. It will apply to upland cotton purchased not later than Nov. 21, 2017, and entered into the U.S. by Feb. 19, 2018. The quota is equivalent to one week's consumption of cotton by domestic mills at the seasonally adjusted average rate for the period April 2017 through June 2017, the most recent three months for which data is available.
South Korea has lifted its ban on U.S. poultry and poultry products exports, including fresh eggs, the Agriculture Department announced Aug. 17. South Korea in 2015 banned U.S. poultry imports in response to detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The U.S. notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on Aug. 11 that it is free of HPAI, removing “any justification for U.S. trading partners to restrict imports of U.S. poultry due to HPAI concerns,” USDA said. USDA is working with South Korean officials toward limiting any future HPAI-based import restrictions to affected areas, consistent with OIE standards, USDA said. The agreement for South Korea to allow U.S. eggs and egg product imports is temporary, but will authorize duty-free imports during domestic supply shortages. South Korea’s agriculture ministry reopened its market to U.S. eggs and egg products earlier this year, but again restricted imports after an HPAI detection in Tennessee, USDA said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will allow imports of Hass avocados from Colombia, it said in a final rule. Conditions for importation include orchard and packinghouse requirements and port of entry inspection, as well as a phytosanitary certificate issued by the government of Colombia. The final rule takes effect Sept. 14.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold an “educational meeting” Aug. 24 in Memphis to discuss its new authorities for inspection of Siluriformes fish, including catfish, outlined in a 2015 final rule (see 1511270024), it said. At the meeting, “FSIS will present information on the upcoming full implementation of the regulatory requirements at official domestic establishments that process Siluriformes fish and fish products, as well as information on entry procedures and reinspection at official import inspection establishments,” the agency said. Full implementation of FSIS inspection authority for Siluriformes took effect Aug. 2 (see 1706300029).